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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.

Privatization Watch - 05/2017

05 July 2017
An overview of global trends in privatization of public services. Privatization Watch - Issue 05/2017.

LRG/Municipal workers' newsletter

03 July 2017

We are pleased to share with you the first newsletter for our LRG/Municipal workers' network. The newsletter compiles all news and information on the sector since the launch of the network in September 2016.

Four thousand women health workers on the warpath

03 July 2017

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai employs 4000 Women Health Workers but they are treated as Volunteers. The High Court has confirmed before a Tribunal that they should be treated as workers, not volunteers.

EDF’s astonishing hypocrisy : during global talks on corporate social responsibility, EDF subsidiary in Belgium illegally fires workers

30 June 2017

On 29 June, 14 workers of EDF Luminus were summarily dismissed, without prior notifications, consultations, negotiations (one worker on sick leave was fired by SMS) – in apparent violation of a number of sectoral and national laws and regulations.

23 June - Want to fund better public services? End corporate tax dodging

29 June 2017
Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary

For decades we’ve been told that there simply isn’t enough money available to properly fund our public services. It is up to us to challenge this.

#TaxJustice for #PublicServices Global Week of Action wrap

27 June 2017

#TaxJustice for #PublicServices Global Week of Action (19-23 June 2017) events have taken place in some 24 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Philippines, Vietnam, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Australia and Canada

PSI North America: Principles for Nafta renegotiation

26 June 2017

PSI affiliates in the US and Canada comment on the NAFTA renegotiations submitted to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). "We need a new approach to trade that puts the interests of working people and the environment first. We need an economy that puts a high priority on jobs, living standards, sustainability, and labor rights." Click on the image below to read it in full.

Reclaiming Public Services: How cities and citizens are turning back privatisation

26 June 2017

Reclaiming Public Services is vital reading for anyone interested in the future of local, democratic services like energy, water and health care. This is an in-depth world tour of new initiatives in public ownership and the variety of approaches to deprivatisation.

UN Public Services Awards: Paris water win highlights benefits of remunicipalisation

23 June 2017

Seven years ago the City of Paris brought their water supply back into public hands. Today they received one of the highest international public service awards at a special UN ceremony at The Hague.

Right to Health - Issue 02 (May/June 2017)

23 June 2017
Get the latest global news on health and social care services. People over Profit! #PublicHealth4All. Right to Health newsletter Issue 02/2017.

PSI celebrates World Whistleblowers Day

23 June 2017

Friday 23 June 2017 is World Whistleblowers’ Day. This day draws the world’s attention to the tremendous and fearless work of those who decide to denounce dishonest corporations and public officials, and who get fired, threatened, jailed or even killed in return. It also reminds us of the work ahead to ensure their protection.

Towards a global campaign on PPPs

21 June 2017

On Tuesday 20 June, Public Services International (PSI) and EURODAD organized a joint workshop entitled “NGO's and trade unions workshop on public-private partnerships (PPPs): towards a global campaign on PPPs”, where PSI presented its PEOPLE OVER PROFIT platform, which will be launched in the coming months. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to explore ideas on more in-depth cooperation and how to support the development of the platform with both on-and off-line actions.

20 June – World Refugee Day

19 June 2017

In commemoration of World Refugee Day, Public Services International (PSI) calls for solidarity with the millions of refugees worldwide, underscoring that quality public services are vital in promoting their human rights, inclusion and integration in societies.

LAUNCHED! #TaxJustice for #Public Services Global Week of Action

19 June 2017

From 19-23 June 2017, #TaxJustice for #Public Services Global Week of Action events are rolling out around the world, from South Africa to Tunisia, Brazil to Perú, Vietnam to Bangladesh, and Spain to the Netherlands.

On the last day of the ILC, UN staff based in Geneva embarked on a work stoppage against 7,5% pay cut

16 June 2017

PSI affiliate United Nations Geneva Staff Coordinating Council called people to wear a red armband to show solidarity to all UN staff who engaged in a work stoppage on the last day of the ILC

Annual Report 2010

05 April 2011

In the face of widening cuts to public services and attacks on the rights of public sector workers around the world, leaders of private and public sector trade unions, municipal governments and civil society groups made the unprecedented joint commitment to work together to promote investment in quality public services backed by fair taxation policies as the key solution to the economic crisis, and the best way to build peaceful, equitable, democratic and environmentally-sustainable societies.

GDF-Suez Global Agreement on Fundamental Rights, Social Dialogue and Sustainable Development (2010)

16 November 2010

GDF SUEZ, the world’s second largest gas, water services, and electric utility, Public Services International (PSI), IndustriALL, and the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and are committed to the “Global Agreement on Fundamental Rights, Social Dialogue, and Sustainable Development”. The agreement contains best practice language on trade union rights.

Annual Report 2009

03 April 2010

Environmental and social sustainability provided the primary theme for PSI’s work in 2009. Leading into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December, trade unions and civil society allies worked hard to ensure that world leaders would agree on an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions. Alas, this dream did not become reality. But we are committed to continuing this struggle and achieving real results.

Basic questions Health Workers need to ask - PDK

04 May 2009

When considering migration for the purpose of employment, one has to carefully weigh the benefits and consequences of the move.

Young Workers: PDK

02 May 2009

Migration is an issue that affects us all. It cuts across many realities either at work or in the community. Trade unions want to protect migrant workers rights and to promote international solidarity among workers worldwide.

PDK: Bermuda

02 May 2009

Bermuda’s small population limits its ability to provide adequate workers in specific areas of public services.

Kenya: Pre-decision & Information Kit

24 April 2009

It is a human right for one to seek opportunities to improve his or her life and social and economic status. Faced with low remuneration, poor working conditions, workplace violence and the rising prices of basic commodities in developing countries, health workers are opting to migrate to industrialized countries where they believe they can find better opportunities for themselves and for their families.

Annual Report 2008

03 April 2009

Looking back at 2008 the one word that comes to mind is CHANGE. We saw a dramatic change in the global economy, it was the keyword in the US election and we initiated changes in PSI.

EDF Group on corporate social responsibility (2009)

25 January 2009

The agreement, effective in all countries in which Electricite de France (EDF Group) has controlling companies, affirms a commitment to uphold all Fundamental ILO Core Conventions on Trade Union and workers' rights, UN Declarations on Human Rights, and the ten principles of the UN's Global Compact.

Defending universally-accessible quality public services: a central challenge for municipal workers unions

20 November 2008

A powerpoint presentation by Jorge Mancillas, PSI Health and Municipal Services Officer, at the meeting on "Strategies to deal with privatisation of municipal services" jointly organised by PSI and its Norwegian affiliate, Fagforbundet, in Oslo, Norway from 26 to 28 November 2008.

It’s time to end violence against women

30 October 2008
End Violence against women (cover)

“Violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, Article 1

Ghana: pre-decision and information kit

22 April 2008

In Ghana, where unemployment and poverty are on the rise, many Ghanaian health workers are enticed and compelled to seek ‘greener pastures’ in Europe and in North America. Without adequate information preparation, aspiring migrants cannot make informed decisions on whether it is really in their best interest to migrate.

Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector

22 November 2005

Workplace violence - physical (homicide, attacks, beating) or psychological (mobbing, bullying, harassment) - affects all categories of workers in just about all sectors. However, the health sector is at major risk due to fundamental characteristics of the services delivered and the present work environment. Under the strain of reforms, social instability, increasing pressures from long working hours and shift work, demoralisation of workers, workplace violence is rapidly spreading in the health sector.

Closing the Gender Gap

31 January 2005

This guide was first developed by the Public Services International Women's Education and Organising Project in the Andean Region to provide practical support for its affiliated unions in the Andean countries to progress towards pay equity for women. It sets out in detail a method for designing and then implementing a programme of job evaluation, with the purpose of revaluing, without gender bias, the work effected within an organisation or company.