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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 about new Brazilian labour legislations: Can have catastrophic and far-reaching consequences

05 June 2018

On June 5th, PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli took to the floor at the International Labour Conference to argue against the newly proposed labour legislation in Brazil.

Building trade union solidarity for human rights and access to quality public services for syrian refugees in Lebanon

05 June 2018

PSI carried out a mission in Lebanon on 29-31 May 2018 under the PSI Project on “Trade Unions, Human Rights and Quality Public Services for Refugees and Migrants in the MENA,” covering Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria for the two-year period (2018-2019). Implemented in partnership with U2U and the PSI Swedish Affiliates (Vårdförbundet, Vision, Fackförbundet ST, Akademikerförbundet SSR and Kommunal) the project aims to develop the capacity of public sector trade unions to address migration and refugee issues from the rights-based perspective.

PSI and Jichiro speak at Japan CAS hearing @ ILC 2018

05 June 2018

The Committee on the Application of Standards meets during the International Labour Conference at the ILO to hear cases on how ILO Conventions are being undermined. This year, Japan was chosen and the country's continued failure to recognize the right to organise for firefighters and prison guards was in the spotlight.

PSI General Secretary addresses the ILC Plenary

04 June 2018

The commitment of trade union members to build a better world is stronger than ever; as greater than ever are inequality and injustice, said PSI Secretary General, Rosa Pavanelli, when she addressed the Plenary of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

"When decentralisation happened, we were sent into a spin"- Interview with Roba Duba, Kenyan Union Leader @ ILC2018

04 June 2018

On the sidelines of the International Labour Conference, PSI is hearing stories of unionists from across the world, fighting for their most basic workers’ rights.

“Japan sticks out like a sore thumb” - Interview with Mr Atsushi KAWAMOTO, Jichiro President @ ILC2018

01 June 2018

Japan remains one of the last advanced economies which still refuses to recognise the basic labour rights for public service workers. JICHIRO President, Atsushi KAWAMOTO discusses the labour movement's attempts to challenge this paradigm through the ILC's Committee on the Application of Standards which will hear the case of Japan on June 4th.

Combatting the neoliberal dismantling of the state: CLATE event on outsourcing at ILC2018

31 May 2018

At the International Labour Conference, the Latin American State Workers’ Confederation (CLATE) held an event about the Future of Work in the Public Sector.

“Internationalism is about sharing struggles” - Interview with Theodore Gnagna, Côte D’Ivoire @ ILC2018

31 May 2018

Thousands of young people make the perilous journey from Cote d’Ivoire across the Mediterranean to Europe every year. Theodor Gnagna, President of the National Platform for Public Sector Workers, says that establishing better work conditions in the country is an essential step in bringing an end to the exodus.

"The public is losing its faith in public services" : Interview with Chadian Union Leader at ILC2018

30 May 2018

On the sidelines of the International Labour Conference, PSI is hearing stories of unionists from across the world, fighting for their most basic workers’ rights.

Ebola outbreak in DRC : Healthworkers must be protected

30 May 2018

The death of a nurse as a result of the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the urgent need for health workers to be protected in their work.

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 .

International Labour Conference - Day #1 : Committee on Social Dialogue | Committee on Violence and Harassment

28 May 2018

Public Services International brought the voice of the world’s public sector workers to the 107th session of the International Labour Conference today, as the ILO’s flagship conference opened its doors.

PSI and BWI discuss in Manila the "Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration"

28 May 2018

On May 28, global unions, with the support from FNV, conducted a one-day trade union consultation in the capital of the Philippines. The GCM is seen as a historic opportunity to strengthen global governance of migration and enhance cooperation among governments to address the needs of migrants and the root causes of migration.

RWANDA: Illegally dismissed SYPELGAZ trade union members to return to court on June 4

25 May 2018

PSI affiliate SYPELGAZ (Trade Union for Energy, Water and Sanitation in Rwanda) has been in court since May 2016, to demand for proper compensation of its five illegally dismissed Union Executive Committee Members and various other longtime denied labor related rights. After hearing explanations from both sides, the Court has deferred further pronouncements on the case to June 4.

Revised Global Tax System could easily fund SDGs says UNCTAD Director

25 May 2018

Attending the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Civil Society Hearing, Public Services International welcomed the institution's increased focus on addressing tax avoidance and discussion of a Global Tax Treaty.

Privatising Power: UK aid funds energy privatisation in Nigeria

17 March 2015

This new research, released on 17 March, by campaign group Global Justice Now shows that since 2002, £140 million of UK aid money has been spent by the Department for International Development (DfID) on projects to support the privatisation of Nigeria’s energy system, with disastrous consequences for people in Nigeria.

Negotiating Healthy Trade in Australia

03 March 2015

This report published by the Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation provides an overview of the dimensions of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) relevant to health, the process and findings of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - including characterising the potential health impacts based on the literature and stakeholder input - and recommendations to the Australian Government to avoid or mitigate potential harms from the TPP. The authors intend for the HIA to inform negotiations and health sector advocacy on the TPP.

Middle East and North Africa Region Briefing on Tax Justice

01 March 2015

This briefing paper written by Jane Lethbridge, PSIRU, was commissioned by Public Services International (PSI)

Report: Unhappy Meal

27 February 2015

This report is the product of a coalition of European and American trade unions, representing more than 15 million workers in different sectors of the economy in 40 countries, and War on Want, the U.K.-based anti-poverty campaign group. The members of the coalition work towards an economy built on decent jobs and a fair, progressive tax system at the global, E.U., and national levels. It is the first time that we have joined forces to highlight an example of corporate tax avoidance, a critical issue a¬ecting the future of democracy and the welfare state.

Wealth: Having It All and Wanting More

25 February 2015

This research paper published by Oxfam International shows that the richest 1 percent have seen their share of global wealth increase from 44 percent in 2009 to 48 percent in 2014 and at this rate will be more than 50 percent in 2016.

Banner: Right to strike

13 February 2015

Use these banners in your Right to Strike activities on 18 February and until 21 March.

The Reliable Performance of Public Water Services

19 January 2015
The Reliable Performance of Public Water Services

This leaflet on water privatization in Jakarta is the forth in a series of four leaflets published by Public Services International, Transnational Institute, Amrta Institute for Water Literacy and Jakarta Water Trade Union.

PSI and EI Cooperation Agreement

18 December 2014

On 18th December 2014, PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, and EI General Secretary, Fred Van Leeuwen, signed a cooperation agreement that will strengthen public sector unions in their joint action.

On Migrants Day, PSI reiterates its commitment to decent work and social protection for all

15 December 2014
Photo: Gustave Deghilage - Creative Commons

Public Services International (PSI) marks December 18th – International Migrants Day, with continued vigour and commitment to fight for decent work and social protection for migrant workers.

Stand for democracy at work on Human Rights Day!

10 December 2014
SEIU, US. Photo: Carrie Sloan, Creative Commons

“Everyone must enjoy full access to decent work, education, health, safety and peace,” says Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary. On International Human Rights Day, PSI calls on its affiliates and activists to unite and stand firm against the attack on core labour rights and freedoms.

COP20: The public option in green policies

09 December 2014
Windmills - Photo: Pablo LordFerguson (Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

As the UN Climate Change Summit, COP20, in Lima, Peru, draws to an end, PSI highlights the special role of local and national government structures in developing, implementing and monitoring green policies.

Here to stay: Water remunicipalisation as a global trend

01 December 2014
Here to stay

On 13 November 2014, the Transnational Institute (TNI), Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) and the Multinational Observatory released a new report called “Here to stay: Water remunicipalisation as a global trend”.

Poster: International day for the elimination of violence against women 2014

25 November 2014
International day for the elimination of violence against women

The PSI poster for the International day for the elimination of violence against women, that took place on 25 November 2014, is available for download in English, French and Spanish.

CETA: Trading away democracy

20 November 2014

The EU's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada could unleash a wave of corporate lawsuits against Canada, the EU and its member states – including through the Canadian subsidiaries of US multinational corporations. This in-depth analysis of CETA’s investor rights by Corporate Europe Observatory and 14 other environmental NGOs, citizens’ groups and workers unions from both sides of the Atlantic outlines the threats.

Outcomes of PSI Steering Comittee SC-18

17 November 2014

PSI Steering Committee (SC-18) met in Geneva on 12-13 November 2014.

The agenda covered all items relating to the implementation of the Programme of Action with a special focus on the global campaigns PSI is leading on trade agreements and tax justice.