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.

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.

Cameroon Water Back in Public Hands

01 May 2018

On May Day 2018, Cameroon celebrates not only the gains made by workers and trade unions over the years, but can also celebrate the end of a ten-year experiment with privatisation of water services management. May 1st 2018 is the day that the government of Cameroon regains control of its water utility.

May Day: forget the elites, it's workers' stories which need to be told

30 April 2018

PSI launches video series featuring 16 stories from nine countries – Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, USA, Chad, Lebanon, Guatemala and Brazil - to praise the work of public servants around the world.

Decent Work for Health for All

27 April 2018

The health workforce is the backbone of the health and social care delivery system. Achieving health for all requires universal access to a well-motivated health and social workforce, globally. The World Health Organization noted that there will be a shortfall of 18 million health and social workers by 2030 if urgent steps are not taken immediately. And that would make it impossible for universal health care to be instituted, as envisaged in Agenda 2030.

28 April: fight for safe, healthy and decent workplaces

27 April 2018

7,850 workers die every day from accidents at the workplace or occupational diseases stemming largely from poor working conditions. 2.78 million workers continue to die each year from work-related injuries and illnesses. 2.4 million of these deaths can be attributed to work-related diseases alone.

The future of health in Africa

27 April 2018

Over the last year, there have been renewed deliberations on what direction the pathways to health for all in Africa would take. The 1st World Health Organization Africa Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda on 27-28 June 2017 set the context, with the theme: “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”. The Geneva Graduate Institute encouraged further discussion with a panel discussion on “The Future of Health in Africa” on 23 January 2018.

Quito: greater recognition of the role of municipal waste workers but their rights remain vulnerable

27 April 2018

The Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ) is home to around 2.6 million people generating some 2,000 tonnes of waste every day. An Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) system has been in place since 2010, and is currently run by public companies. Among other things, it includes informal waste workers as “environmental managers”.

Global Unions and ITUC protest in Geneva demanding freedom for Lula

27 April 2018
Photo: IndustriALL/CC

On 27 April, PSI together with fellow global unions [IndustriALL, UNI, IUF] and ITUC delivered a letter to the Brazilian mission to the UN, urging the immediate release of former Brazilian President Lula

Privatization Watch - 02/2018

26 April 2018

Latest issue of #PrivatizationWatch (02/2018) - The Global newsletter on privatization of public services around the world.

Political will is required to get rid of malaria

25 April 2018

On Wednesday 25 April, PSI affiliates join the World Health Organization (WHO), governments, and civil society organisations to observe the World Malaria Day 2018. The day serves to provide information on the year-long implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas.

Addressing gender biases and inequities in the health and social care workforce is critical to achieving the SDGs

24 April 2018

PSI’s updated research “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector - A Trade Union Response” was highlighted in a webinar held on March 5 by the WHO’s Global Health Workforce Network (GWHN) thematic hub on Gender Equity in the Health and Social Workforce. The updated publication was one of four submissions in the webinar that showcased the wide range of research, policies and actions to achieve gender-transformative change in the health and social workforce.

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.

Health for All campaign in West Africa

20 April 2018

The West Africa Health Sector Unions’ Network (WAHSUN) launched its Health for All West in Africa Campaign, in Abuja, Nigeria on 10 April 2018. This is the sub-regional momentum of the PSI global campaign for the Right to Health.

Striking nurses win in Delhi, India!

19 April 2018

After a 9 day strike, nurses at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Delhi, India have successfully won better pay, conditions and nurse to patient ratios.

PSI statement on UNCSW62

18 April 2018

Union women from around the world attended the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW62), which took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 12-23 March 2018.

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.

Rosa Pavanelli's presentation at the ILC

10 June 2014

Find here the statement read by PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, at the International Labour Conference (ILC) on Thursday 5 June 2014.

ILO World Social Protection Report 2014-15

09 June 2014
Front page of ILO World Social Protection report

The International Labour Organization has issued a new report on the critical absence of social protection for the vast majority of people in the world. The World Social Protection Report 2014-2015 presents the latest social security trends and finds that most people are without adequate social protection at times in their lives when it is most needed.

Briefing on tax justice issues - Africa

27 May 2014
Briefing

This briefing paper on tax justice issues in Africa was written in preparation for meetings of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the African Tax Administrators Forum (ATAF) that took place in November 2013.

Presention: PSI Tax Justice

23 May 2014

Presented by Teresa Marshall, PSI Communications Coordinator, at the PSI Tax Justice & Anti-Corruption Forum, April 2014, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Presentation: Fiscal justice, public services and workers

23 May 2014

Presentation by Elizabeth Villagomez for the PSI Tax Justice & Anti-Corruption Forum, April 2014, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Banners: Route of Shame 2014

22 May 2014
Banner: Route of shame

Banners (in pdf) for the 'Route of Shame 2014' bicycle ride.

The banners can be downloaded in English and French.

Campaign materials: Route of Shame 2014

22 May 2014
Route of Shame

Campaign materials for the 'Route of Shame 2014' bicycle ride.

Flyer: Route of Shame 2014

22 May 2014
Flyer Route of Shame 2014

Flyers (in pdf) for the Route of Shame 2014 bicycle ride.

Flyers can be downloaded in English, French and Spanish.

Badges: Route of Shame 2014

22 May 2014
Badges: Route of Shame 2014

Badges (in pdf format) for the Route of Shame 2014 bicycle ride.

Badges can be downloaded in English, French and Spanish.

The Route of Shame 2014 logos

22 May 2014
Route of Shame logo

Logos (in pdf and jpg) for the Route of Shame 2014 bicycle ride.

Logos exist in English, French and Spanish.

Presentation: Route of Shame 2014

22 May 2014
Route of Shame, Geneva

PSI Presentations on the 'Route of Shame', taking place in Geneva on Wednesday 4 June 2014. Presentations can be downloaded in English, French and Spanish.

Speech by Rosa Pavanelli at the 9th EPSU Congress

21 May 2014

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, introduced the discussion on Resolution n. 3 “Strengthening workers’ rights and employment in Europe through collective bargaining, social dialogue and industrial action” at the 9th EPSU Congress held in Toulouse, 20-23 May 2014.

Why we need public spending (updated)

21 May 2014
Why we need public spending - cover page

In May 2014, a revised version of the PSIRU study "Why we need public spending" was released as a joint publication of PSI and EPSU. This report is authored and updated by David Hall of the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU). This study provides valuable facts, figures and arguments to defend public spending and public services and public service workers.

Speech given by PSI General Secretary at the 7th Global Forum on Migration and Development

13 May 2014
Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, addressing the Common Space Panel session at the GFMD

PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli addressed the delegates of the 7th Global Forum on Migration and Development on 14 May in the Common Space Panel session on Labour Migration. An estimated 900 delegates representing governments, civil society, international organizations and experts participated in the forum.

PSI Special Report: TISA versus Public Services

28 April 2014
Cover page - TISA versus Public Services

A new report by Public Services International (PSI) warns that governments are planning to take the world on a liberalisation spree on a scale never seen before. According to the report, this massive trade deal will put public healthcare, broadcasting, water, transport and other services at risk. The proposed deal could make it impossible for future governments to restore public services to public control, even in cases where private service delivery has failed. It would also restrict a government’s ability to regulate key sectors including financial, energy, telecommunications and cross-border data flows.