This archive report was first published on 4 December 2021.
Published on December 4, 2021, the transporters' joint statement, signed by the International Air Transport Association, International Chamber of Shipping, International Road Transport Union, and International Transport Workers' Federation, rejected fresh travel restrictions, citing their potential to 'inflict serious harm to still recovering global supply chains and local economies.'
Representing approximately $20 trillion of world trade, these groups cautioned that travel bans put the jobs of logistics sector workers at risk and damaged local economies.
Since South Africa first announced the Omicron variant, at least five dozen countries have imposed travel restrictions, including the UK, US, and Canada's blanket ban on all of South Africa's neighbors.
Industry leaders and workers urged heads of state to take decisive action to ease supply chain strain and support the exhausted global transport workforce during the busy holiday season.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, noted that public health officials expect variants to emerge, and by the time they are detected, they are often already present globally.
Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of IRU, emphasized that the sudden halting of commercial travel was hurting workers who 'simply doing their job to keep global supply chains functioning.'
Botswana's President Mokgweesti Masisi protested the 'punishment' for revealing the Omicron variant, stating that the response was 'unfortunate' and 'caused unnecessary panic.'
