Global supply chains at risk of collapse, warn business leaders

Global supply chains are at risk of collapse unless governments worldwide restore freedom of movement to transport workers and give them priority over vaccines, a coalition of international business leaders has warned.

In an open letter to heads of state and government attending the United Nations General Assembly, the International Chamber of Shipping and other transport groups warned that almost two years of travel bans and other restrictions had had an “enormously detrimental impact on [transport workers’] wellbeing and safety.”

The “mistreatment” of workers was piling pressure on the already “crumbling” global supply chain, they said, adding that any failure to act was likely to exacerbate shortages of essential goods including electronics, food, fuel and medical supplies ahead of Christmas.

Pandemic border restrictions, distancing requirements and factory closures have all wreaked havoc on traditional supply chains, leading to congestion at ports, delivery delays and soaring freight rates on the main shipping routes between China, the US and Europe. A shortage of transport workers had piled on the pressure, the organisations warned, and was only expected to get worse.