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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 video: Public education for all

29 November 2018

#SolidarityWithRefugees  PSI is launching the second video, of a series of three, on building quality public services for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. This second video focuses on quality public education for all.

Women are most likely to be affected by violence in the workplace, but we are all victims

27 November 2018

In an op-ed published around the world, PSI Gender Equality Officer, Verónica Montúfar, writes about how sexual harassment and assault are part of most women’s professional lives. Even though men can also suffer violence and harassment in the workplace, stereotyping and inequality in power relationships make women much more vulnerable to it.

PSI lobbies for the rights of public sector unions and workers in Liberia

26 November 2018

On 26 November, PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli, with the leadership of Kommunal, meet the Chairman of the Health Committee in the Parliament, Hon. Joseph Nyah Somwarbi, at the House of Parliament of Liberia, to lobby for the rights of public sector unions and workers such as the National Health Workers Union of Liberia (NAHWUL) to be recognized formally and legally and to be allowed to unionize in line with ILO Conventions.

Ending workplace violence and harassment in public services

23 November 2018

The recent deaths of two young women health workers in Nigeria, Saifura and Hauwa, are the latest tragic examples of the dangers faced by workers when delivering public services. However, on this 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we must remember that it is not only in the extreme conditions of conflict zones that workplace violence occurs.

Norwegian Nurses Organization Forced to Call Off Strike

22 November 2018

Nurses from PSI affiliate NSF (Norwegian Nurses Organisation), on strike since 25 October, were forced to resume work after the Association of Norwegian Enterprise announced a lockout - the first ever in Norwegian healthcare - and the Norwegian government had to step into the conflict.

PSI video: Public healthcare for all

22 November 2018

#SolidarityWithRefugees  PSI is launching the first video, of a series of three, on building quality public services for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. This first video focuses on quality public healthcare for all.

Healthcare in South Africa - #NoToXenophobia

22 November 2018

Speaking at a meeting of the National Educational Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) last week, the South African Health Minister, Mr Aaron Motsoaledi said the country’s health system is overburdened by foreigners. This is a dangerous playing up of the xenophobic card, to deflect attention from the major challenges facing public healthcare delivery: inadequate funding; poor governance, and sharp social inequality which reinforces health inequity.

Young Workers Academy, French-speaking Africa

16 November 2018

A cross section of young workers across PSI affiliated unions in French-speaking Africa converged in Cotonou, Benin, from October 31, 2018 to November 2, 2018, for a workshop aimed primarily to discuss PSI’s political agenda from the young workers’ perspective.

ILO study reveals bankruptcy of pensions privatisation

07 November 2018
Photo: PSI/Shutterstock.com

A new publication by the ILO confirms PSI’s long-held position: the privatisation of public pension systems has delivered vast returns to a tiny financial elite while diminishing the incomes of workers in retirement.

31 October: UN World Cities Day – “Stop precarious work in local public services!”

30 October 2018

On UN World Cities Day 2018, PSI calls the United Nations, governments and mayors to halt the widespread use of precarious work in local and regional government services that hurts local communities, undermines the quality and accessibility of local public services, and stands in the way of achieving sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities (SDG11).

UN poverty expert warns against tsunami of unchecked privatisation

26 October 2018
psi/shutterstock.com

New report on "Extreme poverty and Human rights" finds that "widespread privatisation of public goods in many societies is systematically eliminating human rights protections and further marginalising those living in poverty".

Binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights

19 October 2018
Room 20 of UN building

The intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations (IGWG) held its fourth meeting on 15-19 October in Geneva, in order to discuss the Zero Draft for an internationally legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Over 8,000 women in Glasgow to strike over gender-based pay discrimination in public services

18 October 2018
GMB members (left to right) Gillian Docherty, Eileen Dougall, Shona Thomson and Lee-Ann Dougall (Jane Barlow/PA)

Thousands of school staff, caterers, cleaners, nursery and care workers - members of PSI affiliates UNISON and GMB - will begin a 48-hour strike action on 23 October. The decision comes after a 12-year tribunal battle, and a repeated refusal by the city council to state its position after the highest court in Scotland ruled last year that the city’s pay system was discriminatory.

Murder of Hauwa Liman: grave cause for concern in Nigeria

18 October 2018
Hauwa Mohammed Liman

The execution of 24-year old Hauwa Mohammed Liman by a faction of the Boko Haram sect in north-eastern Nigeria calls for increasing concern over the safety and security of health workers delivering emergency services. PSI is shocked by this cruel act and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to take necessary action to bring an end to this reign of terror.

European network of public service workers in migrant and refugee services is created

16 October 2018

On September 26th and 27th, the Italian Public Sector Union, FP CGIL, together with the Spanish union Fsc Ccoo and the European Public Services Union, held a meeting in Palermo to tackle the issue of migration.

Policy brief EB-148 : Tax Justice

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Tax Justice was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in tax since EB-147, that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015, and to inform EB-148 of proposed action in tax for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : International Financial Institutions (IFIs)

04 October 2016

This policy brief on International Financial Institutions (IFIs) was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of progress in IFI work. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Young Workers

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Young Workers was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of PSI activities on young workers’ issues. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in gender equality and LGBTI issues since EB-147, that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015, and to inform EB-148 of proposed actions for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Trade Union Rights

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Trade Union Rights was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is for EB-148 to note activities in the area of trade union rights. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Educational Support and Cultural Workers Network (ESCW)

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Educational Support and Cultural Workers Network (ESCW) was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of work in the Educational Support and Cultural Workers Network (ESCW) sector. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Health and Social Services

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Health and Social Services was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in the Health and Social Services sector since the PSI Steering Committee SC-19 that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in November 2015 and inform EB-148 of activities planned for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Utilities

04 October 2016

This policy brief on utilities was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in the utilities sector since the PSI Steering Committee SC-19 that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in November 2015 and inform EB-148 of activities planned for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Policy brief EB-148 : Local and Regional Government

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Local and Regional Government (LRG) was produced for the PSI Executive Board 148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in the local and regional government sector since EB-147 that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Tax Justice : Nigeria Report

23 September 2016

This detailed research paper by Jane Lethbridge from Public Services International Research Institute outlines the current issues surrounding tax evasion, avoidance and illicit financial flows in Nigeria and outlines some potential solutions.

Final report of the expert group to the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth

21 September 2016

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, established the High-Level Commission on
Health Employment and Economic Growth (ComHEEG) in March 2016. Its task is to propose intersectoral
actions to guide and stimulate the creation of health and social sector jobs to advance inclusive
economic growth.
In support of the Commission’s work, an Expert Group was convened to critically review the
available evidence.

Safe Workers Save Lives: PSI Health Priorities and Trade Union Response to the Ebola Virus Disease

21 September 2016
Photo: UNMEER/Martine Perret. Creative Commons

At the start of the Ebola crisis, PSI was contacted by its affiliates from the three most affected countries with the alarming news that health workers were dying on the workfloor. This update reports on the work that has taken place on the ground since the implementation of PSI's Ebola response strategy.

PSI General Secretary statement at the 2nd ComHEEG meeting

20 September 2016

This second meeting of the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth (ComHEEG) aims at finalising and formally endorsing the recommendations and the report of the Commission, as well as discussing the way forward towards implementation of these recommendations.

Working for Health and Growth - Investing in the health workforce

20 September 2016
This new report launched by the UN High-Level Commission on Health and Employment Growth (ComHEEG) proposes ambitious solutions to ensure that the world has the right number of jobs for health workers with the right skills and in the right places to deliver universal health coverage.

Gender and Tax Justice Resources

07 September 2016

These presentations and concept note were produced for PSI's global forum "No Gender Justice Without Tax Justice" held in London, 30 June-1 July 2016.

Trade Union Forum on Climate and Jobs

30 November 2015

Trade unions will be present in Paris and will be engaging between them and with allies on their experiences on climate change around the world. Join us in our forum!

Protecting the public interest from predatory privatization and outsourcing

27 November 2015
AFSCME

For two days union leaders and policy leaders from the World Bank, the IMF and the U.S. Government led by Treasury, will discuss the global push for privatization, linking unions' national campaigns to regional and global dynamics.

PSI/EPSU-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration and Trade Union Rights

23 November 2015

The PSI/EPSU-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration and Trade Union Rights is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia on 24-25 November. This meeting will be held in English, Russian and Armenian with the participation of PSI/EPSU affiliates, ILO Moscow ACTRAV and invited guests, experts and PSI staff.

12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab Countries and related meetings

14 September 2015

The 12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab Countries (AFRECON) and related meetings will take place, from 22nd to 25th September 2015, at the Gaborone Sun Conference Centre, in Gaborone (Botswana).

Global Labour Tax Summit

28 July 2015
Photo: Tax - Creative Commons - 401Kcalculator.org

PSI is organising a Global Labour Tax Summit in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), to examine tax issues from a labour perspective; with inequality rising rapidly and tax scandals increasingly making front page news, public anger is growing.

Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD3)

13 July 2015

As negotiations for the Post 2015 Development Agenda draw to a close at the United Nations, Member States are discussing means of implementation and financing. PSI is taking an active part in this process together with other trade unions and civil society partners.

Mission impossible: Development without Public Services

08 July 2015

In the run up to the Third UN Conference on Financing for Development (FFD) in Addis Ababa, PSI, together with eight civil society organising partners, is holding an event to raise concerns on the effects of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in health, education and water and sanitation and propose alternative policy options that are more compatible with social development.

Young workers' seminar for Africa & Arab countries

19 June 2015

The Africa & Arab countries Young worker's seminar will be held in Gaborone, Botswana on 23 September 2015. This meeting will be held prior to the 12th Regional Conference for Africa & Arab countries (AFRECON).

Women's Seminar for Africa & Arab countries

19 June 2015

The Africa & Arab countries Women's Seminar will be held in Gaborone, Botswana on 22 September 2015. This meeting will be held prior to the 12th Regional Conference for Africa & Arab countries (AFRECON).

AFREC 2015: Regional Executive Committee for Africa and Arab countries

19 June 2015

The Regional Executive Committee for Africa and Arab countries (AFREC) will be held in Gaborone, Botswana on 22 September 2015. This meeting will be held prior to the 12th Regional Conference for Africa & Arab countries (AFRECON).

Global Day of Action on Trade and Investment Treaties

14 April 2015
Photo: Creative Commons - MehrDemokratie - Charlie Rutz

A coalition of civil society groups and unions around the world has organised a global day of action on 18 April to demonstrate against the negotiation of harmful trade agreements. PSI endorses this day of action and encourages affiliates to participate.

May Day 2015

14 April 2015

Public service trade unions and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice invite members to join in marching this May Day under the banner “Working people pay taxes – corporations must pay their share!”

ILO Tripartite meeting on the Right to Strike

20 February 2015

The Meeting will bring together participants from 32 Governments of ILO member States, 16 Employer participants and 16 Worker participants nominated by the Employers’ group and the Workers’ group of the Governing Body respectively, as well as observers from the three groups.

High level meetings ITUC/Global Unions and World Bank/IMF

26 January 2015

The meetings will address topics of concern to trade unions and will include serious discussions on the policies of the World Bank and IMF in a variety of areas, including:

CSW59: Commission on the Status of Women

10 December 2014

The 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) will take place at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from 9th to 20th March 2015.

Video: Global Labor Unions Step Up the Fight for Women's Empowerment

21 March 2014

To achieve gender equality and empower women around the world, leaders are increasingly looking to history's pioneers of progress and social inclusion: Labor Unions.

Video: Why we need a tax justice campaign in Ghana

21 February 2014

Watch this inspiring two minute video interview about the need for a tax justice campaign in Ghana, with Bernard Adjei, Deputy General Secretary, Public Service Workers Union (PSWU TUC).

Audio: A special RadioLabour report on migrant workers and their families

07 January 2014

There are 232 million migrants in the world. Many are living and working in horrible conditions. A special RadioLabour report on migrant workers and their families. The report features interviews with two international labour movement activists: Chidi King of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Genevieve Gencianos of Public Services International (PSI).

Photos: PSI Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Forum - Bali

06 December 2013
PSI Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) forum - 9th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Bali: 5 Dec 2013
Source: Flickr

PSI presented a special forum at the 9th WTO Ministerial in Bali. This forum aimed to shed light in dark corners: Why is a new services agreement required? Why must it be negotiated in secrecy outside the multilateral process? Why are so many developing countries refusing to participate? What benefit will it provide to the majority in the community?

David Boys of PSI at GWOPA’s global forum

02 December 2013

David Boys, Public Service International’s (PSI) deputy general secretary, talks to Akvo's Mark Charmer and challenges theories that market-based financing is the right approach for financing water utilities around the world at the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance’s (GWOPA) global forum that took place in Barcelona from 27-29 November 2013.

Strengthening unions in Swaziland

07 November 2013

Swaziland remains one of Africa’s last dictatorships.  Trade unions, including PSI affiliates, are at the forefront of the democratic struggle in the country.  PSI affiliate Vision of Sweden (www.vision.se), in conjunction with LO-TCO Biståndsnämnd (www.lotcobistand.org), supports a project aimed at strengthening unions.  In the interview below, a PSI representative talks about the project and the situation in Swaziland.

Videos - Risks of the Trade in Services Agreement

16 October 2013

View on youtube all the videos from PSI's workshop on the Risks of the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), held at the WTO forum in Geneva, Switzerland, 2 October 2013.

Photo gallery: PSI at the UN HLD and the PGA

07 October 2013
Monday 30 September 2013
Source: Flickr

PSI at the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development and the Peoples Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights, New York (USA), 30 Sept - 4 October 2013.

Videos: BRICS Cycle of Debates

04 September 2013

The CSPB News Special Edition on the BRICS Cycle of Debates

Audio: Radio interviews - 2013 Guatemala mission

04 September 2013

Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for unionists. Public Services International (PSI) sent a delegation to investigate and ask the Guatemalan government to stop the attacks on unionists in the country.

Workers must fight tax dodging in the financial sector

02 July 2013

PSI Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, Daniel Bertossa, spoke at a TUAC conference in June 2013, about tax dodging in the financial sector.

Video: Interview with Luis Lara - SNTSG, Guatemala

26 June 2013

During the International Labour Conference in Geneva, June 2013, Public Services International interviews Luis Lara, President of Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Salud de Guatemala (SNTSG), a PSI affiliate.

Audio: Money lost through corruption could fund decent public services.

26 June 2013

Every year about $2.6 trillion is stolen by corruption. This money could be used to fund decent public services and help developing countries.

Videos: PSI at the International Labour Conference

21 June 2013

View a selection of interviews of PSI delegates at the ILC, the Route of Shame video, the Anti-Corruption Forum video on YouTube:

Photos: The Route of Shame - South America

21 June 2013
A selection of photos of the Route of Shame parallel events held in several countries in South America: Ecuador, Panama, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.
Source: Flickr

In parallel to the Geneva Route of Shame eventhref>, PSI affiliates organized similar actions in Lima, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Quito and Bogota. International solidarity makes us stronger and unites PSI!