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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.

PSI launches first major union perspective on UBI: no silver bullet

29 April 2019

A new report, released by Public Services International, New Economics Foundation and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung highlights the need to fight for collective responses to inequality and austerity, rather than individualised cash payments.

Reality of Right to Health in Niger - Political commitment needed

26 April 2019
Nouhou Mamadou Badje from Niger

Guaranteeing the health of the Nigerien population is a constitutional obligation which is supposed to be binding on the government. The right to health is a fundamental human right enshrined in the constitution. But as Nouhou Mamadou Badje from the union SUSAS in Niger, reports, the reality thus far is quite different from the provision of the law.

PSI commiserates with WHO on the killing of Epidemiologist fighting Ebola

25 April 2019

19 April was a bad Friday, as Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, a Cameroonian epidemiologist working with the World Health Organization was killed by armed militants in civilian clothing, at the Butembo University Hospital, in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Global Unions' statement on UNCSW63

25 April 2019

Statement by Global Unions following the 63rd UN Commission on the Status of Women reaffirms that a human rights-based approach is critical for achieving gender equality.

Missing the mark on gender equality

25 April 2019

Governments don’t do enough to ensure womxn’s* rights to social protection and public services. A joint response from trade unions, and feminist, womxn’s rights and social justice organisations to the CSW63 Agreed Conclusions.

"We require a strong and well-resourced public sector"

19 April 2019

On 18 April, PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys took part in the Forum on Financing for Development at the United Nations in New York, where he spoke on behalf of the CSO FFD group. Watch his intervention here.

Right to Health - Volume 2, Issue 1 2019 (Jan-Mar)

17 April 2019
Coverpage of PSI Right to Health quarterly
Get the latest global news on health and social care services. People over Profit! #PublicHealth4All. Right to Health Quarterly Volume 2, Issue 01 (Jan-Mar 2019).

Support Fair and Ethical Recruitment: #NoRecruitmentFees

14 February 2017
Join the PSI campaign to abolish the practice of charging recruitment fees on migrant workers. Sign on to the Manifesto and use it to shift policy and practice towards fair and ethical recruitment. #NoRecruitmentFees

Respect the right to organise - Reinstate Liberian trade union leaders NOW!

06 October 2016

The Liberian regime has no respect for basic Human Rights; or Workers Rights!



In Liberia, the government has arbitrarily fired health workers who were on the front lines of the fight against Ebola; simply because they were trying to ensure adequate protection and working conditions for public workers. Before you consider traveling to or investing in Liberia, think about whether you really want to support a regime which treats health heroes as disposable goods.



Learn more about how to stand up for the rights of Liberian workers by watching the video above and signing the petition below!

Tell the World Bank to stop promoting water privatization

16 June 2016
Photo: Kate Holt - Africa Practice - Creative Commons
PSI is working with a number of allies to put pressure on the World Bank to stop promoting water privatization under the disguise of public private partnerships (PPPs). Send a letter to the World Bank Executive Director representing your country asking that the World Bank end all support for water privatization!

The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for disenfranchised workers

25 May 2016
construction worker

In his upcoming report to the UN General Assembly to be presented in October 2016, the Special Rapporteur will examine the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (FOAA) for disenfranchised workers.

Tunisia : General strike due to negotiations deadlock

20 May 2016
Union protestors in Tunis

On 19 May, health workers in Tunisia, members of PSI affiliate Fédération Générale de la Santé (FGS), organised a general strike in all the country’s hospitals (general, regional and teaching hospitals) following the deadlock in negotiations between the union and the Tunisian Health Ministry.

Water and Sanitation are Human Rights, NOW!

21 March 2016
logo

On 22 March, PSI celebrated World Water Day. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 requires that governments ensure universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. However, we are seeing a new push for public-private partnerships (PPPs). We know that PPPs fail to deliver social and environmental targets, and PSI will help affiliates block this approach. We call for a rights-based approach, with public finance and management in the interests of all.

8th of March: Transforming the world of work for equal pay

06 March 2016
poster no difference at work

Public Services International (PSI) promotes the work of women trade unionists and stands united with all of our sisters who deliver vital public services. From the 8th of March to Friday the 25th, PSI joins its members around the world in celebrating women and their achievements.

Join the social media storm against fracking

08 December 2015
Ban Fracking

Public Services International (PSI) is supporting the Food & Water Watch initiative to Ban fracking Now.

Please join the social media storm on 10 December!

Just Transition for the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs

08 December 2015
COP21

Public Services International (PSI) and its European representative European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) are very concerned that European delegations are not supporting the COP agreement to commit to Human Rights and a Just Transition. PSI requests all affiliates to urgently take action!

The support for energy privatisation in Nigeria is not acceptable

23 July 2015
Nigeria stop privatisation

Millions of pounds of UK aid money has been used to support the privatisation of Nigeria’s electricity system. The result has been a disaster with escalating energy prices, job losses and declining quality of services. PSI has joined Global Justice Now and UNISON in their campaign to stop this privatisation.

Open letter: Nurses, Midwives and Healthcare workers speak out against aspects of the TPP

24 June 2015
Photo: Nurses - Creative Commons - Australian DFAT

In an open letter to trade ministers, prime ministers and presidents of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries, nurses, midwives and healthcare workers speak out for the sake of their communities’ health against aspects of the TPP.

Deep concern about the World Bank support for privatisation in education

18 May 2015

On 14 May, more than 100 organisations across the world released a joint open statement expressing deep concerns about the World Bank’s support for the development of a multinational chain of low-fee profit-making private primary schools targeting poor families in Kenya and Uganda.

Trade unionists in Swaziland under attack

03 April 2015
Vincent Ncongwane and PSI affiliate representatives at a meeting in London

Trade unionists and activists are subjected to intensified attacks in Swaziland, the only remaining absolute monarchy.

Hands off our right to strike!

13 February 2015
Right to strike logo

Public Services International joins the ITUC, ITF, EI and other Global Labour Federations in calling for unions to act in defence of the right to strike, which is under attack by employer groups at the ILO.

Solidarity call for aid against impacts of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

23 October 2014
The fight against Ebola in Guinea - Healthworkers in protective equipment

#protecthealthworkers - PSI is calling on all affiliates to donate to the PSI Aid Fund. The funds will be used for the immediate relief and assistance of our members and their families, especially in cases where health workers have died and their families have no access to social protection.

Women's rights beyond the business case: ensuring corporate accountability

01 September 2018

Together with a wide range of organisations under the umbrella of the Feminists for a Binding Treaty coalition, PSI has participated in the production of this briefing that highlights the importance of a binding gender-just international accountability framework for Transnational Corporations (TNCs).

Trade Unions in Transformation

31 July 2018
Photo: Striking dressmakers take a break in diner, ca. 1955 by Kheel Center - CC BY 2.0

With “trade unions in transformation«, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) contributes to shifting the narrative about trade unions. Moving away from the standard depiction of unions as victims of globalization, this project highlights that unions do have agency and power. The stories of successful trade union action told in this brochure demonstrate how labour can and already does shape globalization.

SDG6: Water and sanitation are fundamental services, privatization is not a means of implementation!

10 July 2018

The ambition and breadth of the UN's Sustainable Development Agenda has been the object of both praise and ridicule. This report examines the challenges facing the implementation of SDG6, water and sanitation, and the bold strategies required to overcome them.

To ensure sustainable waste services, we must value waste workers and make sure they are in decent jobs

09 July 2018

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018" - the new global report assesses obstacles and contradictions in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Report: Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018

09 July 2018

PSI is a partner of the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and together with other civil society organizations and networks has produced the annual Spotlight Report assessing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the structural obstacles in its realization.

Alternatives to PPPs – growing instances of de-privatization

09 July 2018

Extract from the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018" - the new global report assesses obstacles and contradictions in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Global framework agreement on the EDF Group’s corporate social responsibility (2018)

03 July 2018

On 29 May 2018 PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli, IndustriAll General Secretary Valter Sanchez and EDF Group CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy signed a renewed Global Framework Agreement on Corporate Social Responsibility covering human and labour rights in the presence of the International Labour Organization Director General Guy Ryder, during the 107th session of the International Labour Conference with the participation of French trade unions. Later, on 19 June, national trade union federations representing a majority of EDF Group workers affiliated to PSI and IndustriAll completed the signature of the renewed Global Framework Agreement with EDF Group, which entered in full force as of 21 June for a 4-year term.

PSI and IndustriALL sign renegotiated Global Framework Agreement with EDF Group

28 May 2018

On 29 May 2018 PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli, IndustriAll General Secretary Valter Sanchez and EDF Group CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy signed a renewed Global Framework Agreement on Corporate Social Responsibility covering human and labour rights in the presence of the International Labour Organization Director General Guy Ryder, during the 107th session of the International Labour Conference with the participation of French trade unions .

FOCUS on tax justice - International union rights

17 May 2018

FOCUS on tax justice is Volume 25 Issue 1 2018 of the journal of International Union Rights. The journal is published four times a year in English and has earned a reputation as the leading independent forum for global trade union debate, winning a readership in more than 100 countries worldwide. The editorial "Corporate tax dodging is stealing from workers and must be stopped" in this issue was written by PSI.

86 CSOs sign open letter on PPPs to World Bank Executive Directors

17 April 2018

Among several demands to government representatives at World Bank Board of Directors, Civil Society Organisations call on them to declare a moratorium on funding and promoting Public-Private Partnerships until an independent review is available.

Case study: Workplace Violence - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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.

Executive Summary - Tackling Violence in the Health Sector

14 April 2018
PSI is pleased to present the updated report entitled “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector - A Trade Union Response”, a consolidated research effort first released in 2016. The 2018 updated version of the study integrates the latest achievements of our affiliated unions in the health sector.

Open letter from Rosa Pavanelli to the international trade union movement on the recent events involving the ILO Governing Body

28 March 2018

"The method and content of the actions of the Workers’ Group leadership is the latest episode revealing a structural lack of cooperation, solidarity and democracy among the global trade unions. We regret to say that with this action PSI has lost confidence and trust in the Workers’ Group leadership", says the PSI's General Secretary.

Africa Non-Academic, Academic and Research Workers Educational Network meeting (Kenya)

04 May 2018

The Africa Non-Academic, Academic and Research Workers Educational Network (ANARWEN) meeting is being held at the Meridian hotel in Nairobi (Kenya) on 4-5 May 2018. The meeting aims at fostering and building solidarity towards enhancing trade union rights, fighting PPPs in the education sector and providing a platform for sharing best practices, including challenges facing the education sector in this region.

Financing for Development (FfD) forum (New York)

24 April 2018

PSI is participating in the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FfD) at the United Nations in New York (23-26 April), represented by Helene Davis-Whyte (JALGO, Jamaica) and Richard Amparbeng (PSWU, Ghana) with the support of Sandra Vermuyten, PSI Head of Campaigns.

Workshop on Public-Private Partnerships versus public sector solutions (Nigeria)

03 April 2018

This workshop on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) versus public sector solutions will be held in Lagos, Nigeria from 3-4 April. It will cover issues such as PSI’s campaign against the privatization of public services, the 2030 Agenda and current global policy issues.

PSI Health and Social Services Task Force meeting

14 February 2018

PSI affiliates in the health and services sectors join in Geneva for the first post-congress Taskforce meeting to discuss the implementation of the Program of Action

International Workshop: Strengthening Public Policies for the 2030 Agenda

29 November 2017

PSI is attending an international workshop in Beirut, organised by the Reflection group on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Trading Privatisation : Time to Fight Back!

28 July 2017

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are driving privatisation on a global scale. They pose a very real threat to public sector services and may even prevent attempts to re-nationalise when privatisation fails.

Conversation with authors of the Civil Society Report "Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017"

17 July 2017

Authors of the recently launched Spotlight Report will present key findings and recommendations to participants for discussion. The 2017 edition focuses on privatization, partnerships, corporate capture and the impact they have on sustainability and inequality.

Accelerating Women’s Economic Empowerment to Achieve the 2030 Agenda

17 July 2017

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, will be speaking on 17 July at the UNSG’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women’s Economic Empowerment. The HLP is a side event at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), currently taking place in New York.

Policy Coherence and Financing for Sustainable Development With Equality

13 July 2017

Side-event during the 2017 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Jointly organized by Civil Society Financing for Development Group including the Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development, Femnet, Forum for Women and Democracy, Womankind Worldwide.

Demonstration in support of Algeria

13 June 2017

JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION TUESDAY 13 JUNE 13:00. PLACE DES NATIONS, GENEVA!

Algerian independent trade unionists attending the International Labor Conference in Geneva this year, say it is high time to finally put pressure on the Algerian government to stop the brutal violations of the human rights of workers who seek to exercise their right to join and form independent trade unions.

Route of Shame 2017

09 June 2017

Join PSI and global trade union leaders on 9 June for the “Route of Shame” bicycle ride, calling for social justice at target embassies and missions in Geneva.

Public Service Trade Union Responses to Climate Change (Jamaica)

19 May 2017

“Public Service Trade Union Responses to Climate Change” is a pilot project developed in cooperation with PSI’s Swedish affiliates. The project started in 2016 with affiliates in three African countries (Tunisia, Zambia and Kenya). In planning for further work in the 2018 to 2022 congress period, PSI expanded the pilot to include two countries in the Inter-Americas region, Jamaica and Perú.

Global Conference on Children on the Move (Berlin)

19 May 2017

The Initiative on Child Rights in the Global Compacts, which PSI is part of, is organising the Global Conference on Children on the Move taking place in Berlin, Germany, on 12-13 June. During this conference, participants will assess progress and develop strategies around implementing commitments to children on the move.

 

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.

PSI at the 14th Coordination Meeting on International Migration - 4th meeting

03 March 2016

Geneviève Gencianos, Public Services International (PSI) Migration Programme Coordinator, participating in the 4th meeting of the 14th Coordination Meeting on International Migration, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) at the United Nations in New York, 25-26 February 2016.

PSI at the 14th Coordination Meeting on International Migration - 2nd meeting

03 March 2016

Geneviève Gencianos, Public Services International (PSI) Migration Programme Coordinator, participating in the 2nd meeting of the 14th Coordination Meeting on International Migration, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) at the United Nations in New York, 25-26 February 2016.

Adriano Campolina, ActionAid, speaks about taxation

25 February 2016

Interview with Adriano Campolina, Executive Director of ActionAid International, at the PSI-FES Global Labour Tax Summit that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 17-18 September 2015.

Video: Update from COP21

05 December 2015

Anabella Rosemberg‎, ITUC, giving an update from the Paris climate summit on 5 December on the negotiations that risk removing a commitment to human rights and “Just Transition” to a low carbon future.

Missing Tax

10 November 2015

US corporations alone managed to shift $500-700 billion - a quarter of their annual profits - out of countries where the money was made and into a handful of low- or no-tax jurisdictions. The missing tax has real consequences. Across the world, falling government revenues are having a direct human cost for some of the poorest people through cuts to essential services.

Video: Solidarity, Strength, Service

08 October 2015

Ritta Thandeka Msibi, PSI Vice-President, DENOSA, South Africa underlines how #AFRECON2015 has served to strengthen solidarity among PSI-affiliated unions in the country and region.

Video: We won't wait another 20 years

08 October 2015

Naomi Dedei Otoo from the Ghana Public Utility Workers' Union of TUC and Chair of PSI Africa Women's Committee on the challenges facing women in Africa and Arab countries.

Video: Young workers are the future

08 October 2015

Young workers are the future and the new generation of trade unions. Boemo Batho from Botswana tells us about some of the challenges facing young workers in Africa and Arab countries.

Video: When a health worker dies doing their job it means that there is something very wrong with the system

08 October 2015

Dr Jasper Goss, PSI Project Officer,  explains how PSI had seen and understood the early warning signs of a system that was failing the public and health workers.

Video: Ebola is not an African problem, but a global issue

08 October 2015

Dr L. Toni Lewis, Chair of SEIU Healthcare, USA, participated in the special session on Ebola Virus Disease during PSI's 12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab countries.

Audio: AFRECON song

24 September 2015

This song was written by Tonney Chiphwanya from the Water Employees Trade Union of Malawi in support of the 12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab countries.

Video: Welcome to AFRECON 2015

27 August 2015

David Dorkenoo, PSI Regional Secretary for Africa & Arab countries welcomes all affiliates to the 12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab Countries taking place from 22-25 September in Gaborone, Botswana.

Video: Globalisation in the absence of appropriate tax frameworks can lead to distortions in global efficiency

16 June 2015

Joseph E. Stiglitz, American economist and a professor at Columbia University, talks at the ICRICT panel "Expanding the debate on taxing global corporate profits" that took place in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Photos: Expanding the debate on taxing global corporate profits

15 June 2015

ICRICT panel held during the Trento Festival of Economics in Italy, 2 June 2015 on tax reform with globally prominent leaders and economists, Joseph Stiglitz, José Antonio Ocampo, Eva Joly, Rosa Pavanelli and Jayati Ghosh.

Video: We must improve the governance of the international tax system

15 June 2015

José Antonio Ocampo, Former UN Undersecretary-General, Former Minister of Finance of Colombia and currently Professor, Colombia University, at the ICRICT panel in Trento on 2 June, explains to us the main points of the ICRICT report.