We've moved to a new site!

Join us at publicservices.international - for all the latest news, resources and struggles from around the world.

We are no longer updating world-psi.org and it will be progressively phased out: all content will be migrated to the new site and old links will redirect eventually.

  1. Home
  2. Issues
  3. Gender equality

Gender equality

“Women hold up half the sky – get used to it.” That message, painted on a sign at a demonstration, tells only half the story. In many ways, women do more than their share: caring for the next generation and elderly parents, household duties, and contributing economically. Women are more than equal in the responsibilities they assume. This must be matched with political, economic and social equality.

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 Interamerica Regional Conference: The Future of Work and Ending Violence and Harassment in Public Services

13 December 2018

More than 90 trade unionists from Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean met to discuss issues including challenges for trade unions and workers in ongoing debates on the future of work, the impact of technology on work and the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. A strong gender analysis was integrated into every one of these topics.

Advancing Women's Human Rights through Gender Responsive Public Services

12 December 2018

This Expert paper by PSI proposes that the UNCSW adopt the framework of Gender Responsive Quality Public Services (GRQPS) and in doing so address the primary barriers to the delivery of GRQPS and the enablers of GRQPS and women’s human rights, including labour rights of those workers who are strategic in front line-public services.

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 December 2018

Today, 10 December, we celebrate International Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For Decent Care Work: Time to Act

07 December 2018

“Care work, both paid and unpaid, is at the heart of humanity and our societies.” From cradle to grave, as children, adults and elders, directly or indirectly, care work ensures our self-development and the reproduction of social life. More than three quarters of care givers are women and girls. And most of these provide unpaid care work in their families. This contributes significantly to the reinforcing of gender inequality.

PSI becomes member of EPIC

05 December 2018

Since November this year, PSI has become a member of the Equal Pay International Coalition-EPIC. Among the 15 members, PSI is the second global union federation taking action as a member of EPIC to reduce the gender pay gap.

End violence against women now! International Women's Day 8 March 2013

08 March 2013
Poster for International Women's Day with heading End violence against women

Public Services International joins our members across the globe in celebrating the social, political and economic change and achievements of women on 8th March. PSI promotes the work of women trade unionists and stands united with our sisters who place themselves on the frontline to deliver vital public services.

Case study: Workplace Violence - Argentina

16 April 2018
PSI’s World Women’s Committee (WOC) agreed that a high priority area of work is workplace violence in the health sector. The experiences of affiliates in raising awareness and developing campaigns and actions to eliminate workplace violence will contribute to the discussions and preparation for developing an ILO standard (convention and recommendations) on violence against women and men at work. This case study was prepared in August 2016 as part of PSI’s contribution to the ILO tripartite experts meeting and is part of the 2018 updated report “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector”.

Case study: Workplace violence - Pakistan

16 April 2018
PSI’s World Women’s Committee (WOC) agreed that a high priority area of work is workplace violence in the health sector. The experiences of affiliates in raising awareness and developing campaigns and actions to eliminate workplace violence will contribute to the discussions and preparation for developing an ILO standard (convention and recommendations) on violence against women and men at work. This case study is part of the 2018 updated report “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector”.

Case study: Workplace Violence - Philippines

16 April 2018
PSI’s World Women’s Committee (WOC) agreed that a high priority area of work is workplace violence in the health sector. The experiences of affiliates in raising awareness and developing campaigns and actions to eliminate workplace violence will contribute to the discussions and preparation for developing an ILO standard (convention and recommendations) on violence against women and men at work. This case study was prepared in August 2016 as part of PSI’s contribution to the ILO tripartite experts meeting and is part of the 2018 updated report “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector”.

Tackling Violence in the Health Sector - A Trade Union Response

16 April 2018
This report on trade union preparedness and actions to tackle violence against women and men in the world of work, was first released in 2016. In 2018, an updated version of the study is being released, integrating the latest achievements of our affiliated unions in the health sector. The workers, many of whom are women, daily face ever-increasing levels of violence and harassment in the world of work. They respond and deliver quality service with deepest commitment and ethical principles.

Gender-neutral job evaluation study in Chile

06 March 2018

The Government of Chile and PSI affiliate ANEF, with the technical support of the ILO, have carried out a gender-neutral job evaluation study in Chile that is being published in Spanish on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The key findings were presented during the 4th Global Forum: Business for Gender Equality - The Future of Work in the 2030 Agenda that was held on 27-28 February in Santiago de Chile.

Equal Pay and Closing the Gender Pay Gap

04 March 2018

This statement provides an overview of three key areas where PSI affiliate UNISON has been leading campaigns and collective bargaining to end gender pay discrimination and to win equal pay for its members. This is part of PSI's online campaign for International Women's Day.

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.

Interactive webinar on “Ending gender-based violence in the world of work”

18 May 2017
Stop gender-based violence at work!

Join us for an interactive webinar on “Ending gender-based violence in the world of work” taking place on 29 May from 14h-15h30 Brussels (GMT+1) – check your time here. Interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian. Register to join by following the instructions.

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.

Inter-American Women's Committee (Rio de Janeiro)

06 February 2017

PSI Interamericas Regional Women's Committee (IAMWOC) was held on 22 March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photos: Singapore Forum on the Elimination of Violence against Women

27 November 2013
PSI affiliates in Singapore held an event on 23rd November on Ending Violence against Women and invited the Speaker of the Parliament as the guest speaker, Mdm. Halimah Yacob Together they said violence against women is an age-old problem – it is time to end it now! Ms. Diana Chia, President of NTUC Singapore, is also a guest at this event. Photo credit: HDBSU - Singapore
Source: Flickr

PSI affiliates in Singapore held an event on 23rd November on Ending Violence against Women and invited the Speaker of the Parliament as the guest speaker, Mdm. Halimah Yacob. Together they said violence against women is an age-old problem – it is time to end it now!

See photos on Flickr.

Video: Say NO to violence against women

26 November 2013

Watch the video published by PSI affiliate, SINALSERPUB, produced by Laura Camila Esteban Niño a young student in economics, on ending violence against women.

Photos: Empowerment of women (WSF, Tunis 2013)

15 April 2013
WSF Tunis - PSI Empowerment of Women workshop 27Mar2013
Source: Flickr

Public Services International had the strongest global union presence at the World Social Forum 26-30 March 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia. PSI hosted and co-sponsored numerous events on trade union rights, youth, water, women’s issues, tax justice, energy and climate change.

Photos: World Social Forum, Tunis 2013

15 April 2013
World Social Forum - Tunisia March 2013
Source: Flickr

Public Services International had the strongest global union presence at the World Social Forum 26-30 March 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia. PSI hosted and co-sponsored numerous events on trade union rights, youth, water, women’s issues, tax justice, energy and climate change.

Audio: Unions win major victory at UN conference about violence against women and girls

19 March 2013

RadioLabour produced a special report on the victory at the UN Status of Women Conference - a victory in no small part due to work by activists from the ITUC, UNI and PSI.

Video: End violence against women now!

28 February 2013

Message to PSI affiliates from Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International, on International Women's Day, 8th March 2013

Photos: WOC and Women's Caucus

27 November 2012

See the 2012 Pre-congress Women's Committee and Women's Caucus photos on Flickr