The alarming forecasts released in recent days regarding millions of isolated people and significant damage to the workforce cast doubt on the economy's ability to continue functioning when the omicron wave reaches its peak. The level of uncertainty increases as one approaches the peak of morbidity, and the question arises as to whether there may be a shortage of certain products.
"CNN last week showed the retail chains with empty shelves, and the main problem there is the supply chain. When a production worker goes into isolation, then you can find a replacement, move workers from one line to another, but when a driver goes into isolation - he already disables the truck. Supply is critical, "said Dudi Manevich, chairman of the Food Industries Association, in an interview with Israel Today.
According to Manevich, "there is a fear that there will be shortages in certain products. There is no fear that the shelves will be empty as in some places in the US and there will be nothing to eat, but the variety may be harmed." Flour, rice, various oils and more.
Port of Haifa.
Fear of supply chain damage,
According to Manevich, the issue of damaging the supply chain in Israel can happen, but this is a less likely scenario, since Israel is a country where the distances from place to place are small.
"We in the food industry have given instructions to try to deliver as much merchandise as possible to the warehouses of the marketing units at the endpoints, so that if we really get to a point where everyone is sick within ten days to two weeks - there will be a high inventory level."
Where can a problem arise?
The chairman of the Food Industries Association warns of a phenomenon that is not new but may become critical in the coming days - traffic jams in ports. In Israel's two main ports there is a queue of dozens of ships with goods waiting to be unloaded.
Due to power struggles between workers and management over the ports reform, the queue of ships is getting longer.
Due to privatization, management has limited ability to recruit new employees.
Beyond that, the blow of mass isolation is also reaching the ports these days, and in the absence of new workers, the situation is becoming worrying.
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