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Africa & Arab countries

Africa and Arab countries form one of the four regions in the PSI structure. Our 153 affiliated organisations in some 43 countries represent a membership of around 1.5 million people here. The regional secretariat is based in Lomé, Togo. Contact our regional offices.

PCS supports series of strikes over Ealing tax office closure

19 March 2019

As members of UK PSI affiliate Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working at HM Revenue and Customs walk out of the closure-threatened Ealing office at noon on 20 March, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka will join them on the picket line.

Addressing the human rights implications of privatization for women and girls

14 March 2019
This interactive side event to #CSW63, jointly organised by PSI, FEMNET and APWLD and opened by UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, focused with a human rights-based perspective on the privatization of public services.

In Algeria, women say NO to a fifth term for President Bouteflika

12 March 2019

This year, International Women's Day coincided with historic events in Algeria, which manifested in a series of popular demonstrations across the country against the fifth term re-election of the president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the suppression of freedom.

Swaziland union demand Equal Pay and Equal Opportunities for women

12 March 2019

In honour of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 50 members from various public sector trade unions and supporting civil society organisations marched through the streets of Manzini. PSI Global Women’s Organising Committee chair, Irene Khumalo, was in attendance.

There Can Be No Gender Equality Without Quality Public Services

11 March 2019

In an Op-ed published around the world, Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, writes about gender responsive quality public services and how women and girls are also the most impacted when countries offer poor basic facilities. Women´s access to social protection, gender-responsive quality public services and infrastructure is a priority of the international community and the main theme of UNCSW63, in which PSI is participating as part of the global union delegation.

A Quantum Leap for Gender Equality: For a Better Future of Work for All

11 March 2019

This new ILO report highlights key gender gaps and obstacles to decent work for women.

8 March - Women’s struggles need to be more bold and radical than ever

07 March 2019

Women’s Day is not a moment to celebrate the feminine. It is a day for political upheaval. Only by placing women’s struggles at the heart of labour action can we achieve the meaningful progress which generations of women have fought for. Read the PSI statement here.

This International Women’s Day, let’s call time on gender-based violence

07 March 2019

Gender-based violence blights the lives of millions of women. It excludes women from the world of work and often stigmatises them within their communities. Read the ITUC statement here.

PSI supports KCTU’s general strike for ratification of ILO Core Conventions without regression

05 March 2019

Social dialogue towards ratification of ILO Core Conventions 87 (freedom of association) and 98 (collective bargaining) in the Republic of Korea appears to be moving in the direction of actually weakening fundamental labour rights.

For the right to paid employment in Nepal

27 February 2019

In Nepal, JHL, Tehy, SASK (the Finnish Trade Union Solidarity Centre) and PSI are involved in a development project aimed at attracting volunteer workers into paid public health care.

EDF unions and management have training on implementing human and labour rights

27 February 2019

Eight months on from the signature of the renewal of the Global Framework Agreement (GFA) of EDF Group, over 25 trade union and management representatives came together on 19-20 February at the ILO International Training Centre in Turin to hone their skills to enable its implementation.

Universal Health Care and Maternity Leave in the Philippines

21 February 2019

History was made in the Philippines on 20 February, when President Duterte signed several bills the government had enacted into law. These included the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill and the Expanded Maternity Leave (EML) bill. Both measures are part of the PSI Philippines campaign under the Health Project supported by Finnish PSI affiliates and SASK.

PSI holds roundtable on refugees' access to public services

19 February 2019

The event held in Beirut on 15 February discussed strategies to enhance refugee assistance in Lebanon, with a view to promoting access to decent work, social protection and public services. PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli and union leaders from PSI Swedish affiliates (ASSR, Vardfordbundet, ST, Vision and Kommunal) attended the meeting alongside members from the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, Ministry of Social Affairs, ILO and UNHCR.

Human Rights, Trade Unions and Quality Public Services for Refugees and Migrant Workers (Beirut)

14 February 2019

This Roundtable Discussion is part of PSI's mission in support of Syrian refugees in Lebanon bringing together trade unions, civil society, government and international organization stakeholders to share perspectives towards strengthening refugee protection and assistance in Lebanon, with the view to promoting access to decent work, social protection and access to quality public services.

CSO Forum on “Social Protection and Transformative Fiscal and Wage Policy" (New York)

08 February 2019

This Forum has been organized to prepare civil society participants to engage at the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development (11 to 21 February 2018 at the UNHQ in New York).

ILO Standard on Gender Based Violence

10 October 2014

The November 2014 session of the ILO Governing Body will again discuss a proposal to include a standard setting item on “violence against women and men in the world of work” on the agenda of a future International Labour Conference. This item was last discussed at the March 2014 Governing Body and whilst there was strong support from some governments, the proposal was not supported by the employers. The Worker’s Group has consistently supported the proposal as a first priority.

International Workers' Day - 1 May 2014

01 May 2014
Quality Public Services

The first of May symbolizes the struggle of the international labour movement. In 2014, International Workers’ Day, May Day, is as relevant as ever. Six years of austerity and neo-liberal policies washing over entire continents have left trade unions struggling for fundamental freedoms and rights at work all over again. Twenty-five years after the break-up of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain, the world is engulfed in another ideological and economic battle. Public service workers from Canada to Paraguay, Algeria to Botswana, South Korea to Thailand and Turkey to Spain, are fighting for their rights and against anti-worker policies, often risking their lives.

New global threat to public services

28 April 2014
No trade in public services image

On Monday 28th April, PSI affiliates, in collaboration with civil society organisations across the world, are mobilising for a day of action to protest the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations. These are taking place regularly in secret in Geneva and the next round is on 28th April.
See PSI's Campaign release kit to download all documents.

28 April International Workers' Memorial Day

25 April 2014

No more excuses!


It is the duty of governments and enterprises to protect the health and safety of workers

Racism? Not for us!

22 March 2014

Speak out and take a stand against racism and xenophobia! On the eve of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2014, Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of the global union federation Public Services International affirms that “our commitment to fight racism and all forms of discrimination is guided by respect for human rights and basic union principles: social justice, equality, collective action and collective responsibility”.

Trans Pacific Partnership is bad news for workers – call to action

25 February 2014
No TPP

Many unions and civil society groups fighting the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Fast Track process of this terrible free trade deal have been frustrated by the lack of mainstream media coverage, especially in America. The media's conspiracy of silence makes it hard to mobilize our members against the TPP and Fast Track because they aren't hearing anything about it.

Urge the Turkish President to let doctors treat their patients

14 January 2014
Physicians for Human Rights logo

The Turkish president is considering signing a health bill that will criminalize emergency medical care and punish doctors with heavy fines and imprisonment for simply doing their jobs.


Physicians for Human Rights is calling on citizens around the world to write to the Turkish President in order to stop the health bill from becoming law.

Support Korean workers – hold protests at Korean embassies on 9 and 16-18 January

03 January 2014
striking workers in Korea

PSI affiliate KPTU asks for continued global support in its fight for worker rights and quality public services. All affiliates are invited to demonstrate international solidarity by bringing our voices to Korean embassies and consulates around the world on 9 and 16-18 January 2014.

Innovative non-profit water partnerships in ACP countries

02 December 2013

PSI is calling upon affiliates to sign on to letter sent to the EU Commissioner for Development expressing concern about the future of EU support for innovative non-profit partnerships in the Water sector in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP).

Algeria: Reinstate Rachid Malaoui and end trade union rights violations now!

23 November 2013
SNAPAP logo and photo of Rachid Malaoui

Public Services International, together with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), the Comité International de Soutien au Syndicalisme Autonome Algérien/CISA (International Support Committee for Autonomous Algerian Trade Unions), the Solidarity Center from AFL-CIO and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), is calling for international action in solidarity with Algerian trade union SNAPAP, including the reinstatement of SNAPAP President, Rachid Malaoui.

Take action: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - 25 November 2013

21 November 2013
PSI violence against women poster

PSI is calling on all its affiliate members, men and women, to make a pledge to end violence against women and girls, at each of their workplaces around the globe.
Violence against women is an age-old problem – it is time to end it now.

UN derecognizes staff unions, refuses to negotiate

12 November 2013

PSI urges all trade unionists to call on your UN Member States and Foreign Ministers and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to respect the rights of workers and immediately resume bargaining.

Join the LabourStart campaign send a letter of protest now

PSI denounces Trade in Services agreement

16 September 2013
white envelope with Top Secret stamp in black

Governments meeting this week (16 September 2013) in Geneva, Switzerland are negotiating in secret a proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). The 48 countries participating in the TISA negotiation seem intent on imposing the corporate agenda of using trade agreements to bind countries to extreme liberalisation and deregulation in order to ensure greater corporate profits at the expense of workers, farmers, service users and the environment. In few words: at the expense of people.

PSI calls for international support for United Nations workers’ rights

09 September 2013

In the summer of 2013, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon unilaterally decided to strip UN unions of negotiating rights and suspend the Staff Management Committee. This sends an unacceptable message to the world that unions are not valid – and is especially hypocritical coming from the global organisation dedicated to peace, social justice and upholding international conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Call for a Robin Hood Tax Now

05 September 2013

You can help send a message to European Union leaders that this tiny tax on banks is vital. It will curb harmful speculation while raising billions to end inequality. When the Robin Hood Tax is successfully adopted in the EU, it will show other nations how a small financial transactions tax can make a big difference.

Municipal solid waste management services in Latin America

13 March 2018

This report is the first of a series of reports which are part of a research project on global waste services which PSI has commissioned to inform its work to improve working conditions in the waste sector. This report served as background research for the first meeting of the PSI Latin America, Central America and Mexican affiliates with membership in municipal waste services that tool place in Bogotá, Colombia on 28-29 July 2017.

Decent work for Community Health Workers in South Asia: A PSI Report

03 March 2018
A recent report by PSI shows the abysmal employment and working conditions of community-based health workers (CHW) in India, Nepal and Pakistan and calls for the recognition of caring for the health of women and children in the community as part of the formal work of the public health system. The report further highlights the importance of the struggle for equal wage for work of equal value in the struggle against neoliberal policies. This is part of PSI's online campaign for International Women's Day.

Privatisation of Migration & Refugee Services & Other Forms of State Disengagement

11 December 2017

This research, written by Jane Lethbridge, Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), examines the effects of the privatisation of services for refugees and migrants at national and international level.

Report: Trade Union Action on Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities

05 December 2017

Trade unions are working all over the world on disability issues. This research captures and summarises trade union action on disability from over 50 countries, including developed, emerging and developing economies. The research offers a new perspective to trade unions who have not worked on this issue, and points to opportunities for others to develop their work further.

Posters: World Cities Day 2017

25 October 2017

The posters for World Cities Day 2017 are available for download in English, French and Spanish.

Click directly on the poster you wish to download for a high resolution PDF for printing.

Double standards: How the UK promotes rip-off health PPPs abroad

02 October 2017

The Jubilee Debt Campaign has released a new report: ‘Double standards: How the UK promotes rip-off health PPPs abroad’ (24 pages, with a 4 page executive summary). PSI and its affiliates has substantially contributed to the content of the report.

Right to Health Newsletter (all issues)

04 September 2017

The Right to Health newsletter is our voice, bringing to you news and perspectives on the campaign and struggles around the world to realise health as a fundamental human right.

Unpacking the Public Private Partnership Revival

27 July 2017

This paper, published in the March edition of The Journal of Development Studies, was written by Kate Bayliss and Elisa Van Waeyenberge. It examines the recent resurgence of interest in public-private partnerships (PPPs) to provide infrastructure in developing countries.

Return and reintegration to South Africa - An information kit for migrant workers

25 July 2017

This return and reintegration to South Africa kit offers basic information about relevant topics to help South African migrant workers who are planning to return home after taking up employment overseas. The kit aims at empowering workers to make informed decisions and raise awareness of the issues related to their return home.

LRG/Municipal workers memes

20 July 2017

Download PSI's memes for LRG/Municipal sector workers - use them to promote and support the invaluable work of these PSI members !!

Whistleblower protection – how serious are governments in addressing corruption

12 July 2017

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017" -the new global report assesses how privatization and corporate capture have become obstacles to progress under the 2030 Agenda.

Four critical steps to operationalize the New Urban Agenda’s transformative commitment to decent work and inclusive and sustainable cities

12 July 2017

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017" -the new global report assesses how privatization and corporate capture have become obstacles to progress under the 2030 Agenda.

Healthcare is not a commodity but a public good

12 July 2017

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017" -the new global report assesses how privatization and corporate capture have become obstacles to progress under the 2030 Agenda.

Decent work requires decent public policies

12 July 2017

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017" -the new global report assesses how privatization and corporate capture have become obstacles to progress under the 2030 Agenda.

The new generation of PPPs in infrastructure – meeting the needs of institutional investors

10 July 2017

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017" -the new global report assesses how privatization and corporate capture have become obstacles to progress under the 2030 Agenda.

The Human Right to Peace: Women, Labour and Public Services in Conflict Zones

14 March 2017

This parallel event jointly organised by PSI-ITUC-EI-WUNR-SSIHRL on “The Human Right to Peace: Women, Labour and Public Services in Conflict Zones”, will take place on 14 March, 8:30 am, on the 10th floor of the Church Center for the United Nations.

61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW61)

13 March 2017

The 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW61) will take place at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from 13th to 24th March 2017.

Women work mobility development & economic justice

10 March 2017

On 16 March at the 61st UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York the Women in Migration Network (WIMN) convenes a dialogue integrating strategies and feminist movements. This parallel event will be held at 10:30 am at the Church Center for the United Nations. PSI is co-sponsoring this event. Moradeke Abiodun - Badru, representing PSI affiliate The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), will be speaking on behalf of PSI.

International Labour Conference 2017

07 March 2017

The 106th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 to 16 June 2017. It will be held at the UN Palais des Nations and ILO headquarters.

PSI attends seminar on the Human Right to Water in the Vatican City

23 February 2017

PSI delegation including Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, take part in the human right to water seminar on 23 and 24 February at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican City.

ILO Tripartite Meeting on Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services (Geneva)

06 February 2017

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss decent work strategies that effectively address health workforce shortages, as a prerequisite to enable provision of equal access to health care for all in need, with a view to adopting conclusions on future programme development and to inform policy-making on the selected topic at the international, regional and national levels.

More information on ILO website.

 

ITUC/Global Unions and World Bank/IMF High level meetings

31 January 2017

PSI is part of the trade union delegation attending the two and a half days meetings with the IMF and World Bank and will be represented as a discussant in the session on "Joint work towards universal social protection and healthcare"'.

140th WHO Executive Board

23 January 2017

The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. This year the annual Board meeting is held from 23 January – 1 February. The members will agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions to be considered by the Health Assembly.

High-Level Policy Forum & OECD Health Ministerial (Paris)

13 January 2017

Public Services International (PSI) and The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) will be participating and contributing to the High-Level Policy Forum on 16 January and OECD Health Ministerial on 17 January 2017.

Project culmination conference on migration (Johannesburg)

12 January 2017

The Culmination Conference of the PSI Project on Decent Work and Social Protection for Migrant Workers in the Public Services is taking place at the Reef Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa on 13 January 2017.

Women Power Unions: Global Trade Union UNCSW Preparatory meeting (New York)

06 December 2016

Trade union representatives to attend Global Union/FES meeting in New York to develop strategy for upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW61), the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

PSI Health Task Force (Geneva)

10 November 2016
Photo: Direct Relief - Creative Commons

PSI is holding this meeting with major affiliates in the health and social services sector to review and renew the PSI health and social services strategy, and to collect views and develop a consensus on the actions that affiliates and PSI should pursue with regard to the major issues that we have provisionally identified for the sector.

Video: We are losing massive resources to tax avoidance

12 June 2015

Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, speaks at the ICRICT panel in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: Multinationals are depriving developing countries of their fair share of taxes

12 June 2015

Eva Joly, French magistrate and politician for Europe Écologie–The Greens, speaks at the ICRICT panel in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: Multinationals are attacking democracy

12 June 2015

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, speaks at the ICRICT panel on tax reform in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: ILO Director General’s intervention at EB-147

11 June 2015

Guy Ryder, ILO Director General, speaks at the PSI Executive Board meeting (EB-147) that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 27-28 May 2015.

Video: The IMF, health systems and the Ebola crisis

09 June 2015

Alexander E. Kentikelenis, University of Cambridge (UK), speaks at the PSI Executive Board meeting (EB-147) that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 27-28 May 2015.

Audio: RadioLabour report on ILC 2015

08 June 2015

Radio Labour reports from the Interntional Labour Conference 2015 with the speeches by trade union leaders Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary and Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary.

Video: ILO Director General speaks about the future of work for the public sector

02 June 2015

Interview with Guy Ryder, ILO Director General, at the PSI Executive Board meeting (EB-147) that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 27-28 May 2015.

Video: SATSE, Senegal – gender equality and young workers

01 June 2015

In this interview, Fatou Diouf, Public Utilities Syndicat Autonome des Travailleurs de la Sénégalaise des Eaux (SATSE), talks about gender equality and young workers.

Video: Gender issues in Swaziland

29 May 2015

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 25-26 May 2015 for the PSI World Women’s Committee. In this interview, Irene Khumalo from Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SDNU) talks about gender issues including violence against women in Swaziland.

Video: In Nigeria, faced with rocketing electricity costs but no electricity, unions and the public demand end to privatisation

28 May 2015

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 27-28 May 2015 for the PSI Executive Board meeting. In this interview, Adeniyi Peters Adeyemi, Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), Nigeria, speaks about privatisation, reforms and Ebola. He explains how Nigerian people have suffered under privatisation, and how in view of the consequences of privatisation, they are now joining in the unions’ opposition and asking the government to fix the problems. He also explains how Nigeria achieved good results in tackling the Ebola crisis.

Video: PSI General Secretary at Conference of Speakers of European Union's Parliaments

22 April 2015

In this video Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International (PSI), addresses the Conference of Speakers of European Union's Parliaments on 21 April in Rome, Italy.

David Boys speaks at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, 16 March 2015

27 March 2015

PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys spoke at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan, on 16 March.

Video: Why PPPs don't work (UNCSW)

18 March 2015

PSI released a new report on 18 March 2015 "Why Public-Private Partnerships don’t work: The many advantages of the public alternative” at the “SDGs for Workers”, a Parallel Event sponsored by Global Unions at the NGO CSW Forum during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).

Video: Why Public-Private Partnerships don’t work

16 March 2015

In this video, PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys introduces the new publication “Why Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) don’t work” by Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU).

This is what energy democracy looks like

10 March 2015

With climate change looming, we are facing an energy emergency. How can unions fight for change? Watch and share TUED's new animated video on energy democracy.