The Covid-19 pandemic has strongly affected global supply chains (GSCs) in general and, in particular, seaports within these chains. The disruption of GSCs arises, in large part, because of measures implemented by governments to minimize the spread of the disease. The link between these measures and their impact on workers has been little studied. This paper reviews the consequences of the measures in the ports of seven countries in the region (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru and the Dominican Republic) through semi-structured interviews with key officials. The interviews reveal a dichotomy between the importance of ports in the GSC and the precarious situation of many port workers. Several issues not regulated by governments (licensing of at-risk and infected persons, application of COVID-19 tests and minimum standards in safety equipment, among others) are resolved through negotiations (between workers and companies) that do not offer solutions in accordance with the urgency required in the context of the pandemic. As a result, these issues are, at best, only partially resolved.
