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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.

Paradise Papers: how mega-rich tax dodgers rip off workers and fuel populism

16 November 2017

Check out this Op-Ed from PSI's Director of Policy & Governance, Daniel Bertossa, on how tax dodgers like those exposed in the Paradise Papers are ripping off workers!

Pledge to #EndVaw

03 November 2017

On Friday 3rd November, Congress male participants made a pledge to end Violence against Women.

Municipal workers: the invisible, underpaid people who run our cities

31 October 2017

Millions of staff clean our streets and keep our cities moving. It’s time to recognise their contribution to the everyday fabric of our urban lives

World Cities Day 2017: Municipal workers make cities happen!

25 October 2017

PSI has chosen 31 October – UN “World Cities Day” - to launch a global visual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the work of municipal public service professionals with a view to increasing their visibility and presenting a positive perception of the many essential public services they deliver every day to cities and metropolitan areas.

PSI wants a binding treaty to protect human rights from corporate abuse

24 October 2017
Susana Barria, PSI, spoke during the 2017 session

The 3rd session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) started on Monday 23 October. For one week, experts, activists, governments, trade unions and other stakeholders will meet at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, to discuss the possibility of adopting a binding treaty on transnational corporations.

Swaziland – public workers to march for fair salary increase

23 October 2017

Public Services International sends its solidarity and support to its affiliates and all public sector workers in Swaziland. The workers were surprised and angered by a pay rise for government officials while their own claim for a salary was refused.

Taking back control

23 October 2017

The People’s Inquiry into Privatisation launches new report today on how privatisation affects communities and calls for a moratorium on privatisation until greater regulatory mechanisms and proper policy frameworks are implemented around the delivery of public services.

World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships – New Global Campaign launched!

23 October 2017

A new campaign aimed at reversing the dangerous rush to promote expensive and high-risk public-private partnerships (PPPs) was launched yesterday by Public Services International and by 151 civil society organisations from all over the globe.

PSI contributions to the thematic consultations towards a global compact on migration in 2018

18 October 2017
First Thematic Consultation in May

The 2016 New York Declaration for Migrants and Refugees mandates the United Nations to forge a Global Compact on Migration and a Global Compact on Refugees, which will be adopted in a High-Level Conference in 2018.

PSI affiliate SNAPAP defending human rights of undocumented migrants in Algeria

17 October 2017

PSI Algerian affiliate SNAPAP is leading a campaign, along with other African national trade union centers, in defending the human rights of undocumented migrants in Algeria. This was in response to the massive arrests of undocumented migrants living in Algiers, the country’s capital.

Public administration workers of the Spanish foreign service go on strike on 16 October: 9-year wage freeze must end now!

16 October 2017

For the last nine years, public administration employees working abroad for the Spanish state have suffered an unjust and arbitrary wage freeze. Precarious working conditions and, in many countries, rampant inflation and strong fluctuations of local currencies have further compounded the issue.

Twenty young African trade unions leaders gathered in Abuja to discuss remunicipalisation

16 October 2017

Twenty young workers, representing 16 trade unions from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria, met in Abuja on 11-12 September to attend a workshop sponsored by IMPACT and Kommunal about the remunicipalisation of public services.

PSI Addresses ITUC Africa Conference on Peace and Security

09 October 2017
Trade union participants ITUC Conference on Peace and Security, Abuja, 5-6 October 2017

"Quality Public Services is key to conflict prevention, crisis adaptation, human security, peace-building and resilience." This was the key message delivered by the PSI delegation at the International Trade Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa) Conference on Peace and Security held on 5-6 October in Abuja, Nigeria.

PSI No Recruitment Fees Campaign in Nigeria

05 October 2017

Around 80 representatives from PSI trade union affiliates in Nigeria, government agencies, civil society organisations and the media launched the PSI No Recruitment Fees Campaign in the country on 3-4 October in Abuja.

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.

World Health Worker Week Engagement Toolkit

04 April 2013
A health worker and a patient walking together, smiling

In many countries, access to health care is limited and people living in rural areas often have the hardest time accessing the most basic health services. This toolkit, created for World Health Worker Week 2013, offers some ideas that can help your organisation to encourage greater apprciation and support of health workers and show your community that health workers count.

Speech by PSI General Secretary at the UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters

03 April 2013

Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International, spoke during a UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters, held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 6 March 2013.

Remunicipalisation: Putting water back into public hands

19 March 2013
Remunicipalisation: Putting water back into public hands

After decades of failed water privatisation, cities like Paris are starting to bring water back into public hands. Download this free 'must-read' book for policy makers and activists looking to democratise water services. This publication was produced by Transnational Institute (TNI), Municipal Services Projects (MSP) and Corporate Europe Observatory(CEO).

Working for the alternative: Implementing PSI's mandate in 2013 and beyond

19 March 2013

The 2012 PSI World Congress provided a framework for Public Services International's discussions and decisions. However, it is necessary to focus priorities. This document presents a detailed implementation plan for PSI's mandate in 2013 and beyond.

Sharp sense - Promoting the safety of healthcare workers

14 March 2013
Cover from the DVD and accompanying booklet Sharp Sense

This is the discussion guide for the PSI DVD Sharp Sense, in which a counsellor, a nurse and a physician each talk openly about the needlestick injuries they sustained, how they faced the possible consequences for their health, for their families and for their communities, and how their lives were transformed.

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PSI Congress Resolutions

12 March 2013

Resolutions adopted at the 29th World Congress of Public Services International, held in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012. The resolutions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Japanese and Russian.

Public sector unions combating HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

11 March 2013

Public Services International and UNISON, UK, held a three-year joint project in South Africa from 2008-2011. The project, to strengthen public sector trade union response to HIV and AIDS engaged 34 PSI affiliates in 11 countries in good practice sharing and implementation.

Posters - International Women's Day 2013

28 February 2013
PSI poster for International Women's Day with slogan End Violence Against Women

Download PSI's International Women's Day 2013 posters (PDF).

In the People's Interest

25 February 2013
In the people's Interest

A survey of achievements on IMPACT/PSI trade union development cooperation between 2008 and 2013.


IMPACT has supported PSI projects for many years through the Developing World fund, contributing to PSI trade union development and solidarity work in areas such as education, health and community development.

Young Workers: Why is migration an issue for you?

21 February 2013

Migration is an issue that affects us all. It cuts across many realities either at work or in the community. PSI works with trade unions worldwide to protect migrant workers. PSI also works to improve wages and working conditions – to reduce the economic pressure to migrate and to improve the quality of health and social services.

No compromise on women’s rights Zero tolerance for violence against women and girls

19 February 2013

Together with other civil society partners, trade unions develop, implement and promote strategies aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. This joint global union statement will be presented to the UNCSW57. For more information: http://unioncsw.world-psi.org

Trade unionists together for LGBT rights!

01 February 2013

This joint publication by Public Services International and Education International, produced in 2007, offers a clear and well-researched view of LGBT rights around the world, and more specifically in the workplace. It offers advice on adopting union LGBT policies, as well as organising and bargaining for LGBT workers.

Emergency Resolution on basic labour rights of public service workers in Japan

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012, adopted the

Resolution 17: In defence of decent work and securing quality public service

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 35: Migration Project

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012