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.

Migration and Refugees

In many countries, skilled health and social care workers feel they must leave their families behind and work abroad to earn a decent income. They brave exploitation and discrimination. And their departure weakens health and social services in their home community. PSI works with unions worldwide to protect migrant workers and to improve the quality of health and social services. Read more

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 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.

Stand up for human rights: People over Profit!

21 March 2018

In the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2018, join us in fighting racism and standing up for human rights!

PSIs Contribution to the Zero Draft of the UN Global Compact on Refugees

16 February 2018

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants adopted by the 2016 United Nations High Level Summit on Migrants and Refugees mandates the development of a UN Global Compact on Refugees and a Global Compact on Migration. UN Member States are now discussing and negotiating on the texts of the Global Compacts. The Global Compacts will be adopted at the end of 2018.

Trump's war against immigrants from poor countries (and against human rights)

16 January 2018

In only three days, from January 8 to 11, the president of the United States eliminated the Temporary Protected Status for Salvadoran immigrants and said that El Salvador, Haiti and African nations are "shithole countries". His words were rejected by many people around the world. The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) issued two strong statements.

18 December - International Migrants Day Statement

18 December 2017

18 December 2017 - “We need a Global Compact on Migration that protects human rights and addresses the root causes of forced migration”. This is the message of Public Services International in commemoration of December 18 International Migrants Day.

Privatisation of Migration & Refugee Services & Other Forms of State Disengagement

11 December 2017

This research, written by Jane Lethbridge, Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), examines the effects of the privatisation of services for refugees and migrants at national and international level.

Statement and Action plan: Public Service Trade Union Action Planning Meeting on Social Protection for Migrant Workers

12 December 2013

Social protection is a human right, covers everyone, and consists of the totality of human rights, i.e. right to decent work, right to health, right to education, social rights, and cultural rights. We must fight for this human right.

Report: PSI at the ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting on Labour Migration

25 November 2013

Public Services International representatives joined the Workers’ Group during the Tripartite Technical Meeting on Labour Migration organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva on 4-8 November.

Pre-decision & Information Guide for Nurses and Midwives Migrating to Australia

28 October 2013
Pre-decision & Information Guide for Nurses and Midwives Migrating to Australia

Public Services International and the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), a PSI affiliate, are partners in the production of this pre-decision kit and information guide for nurses and midwives migrating to Australia.

PSI workshop: Access and Portability of Social Protection for Migrant Workers

24 September 2013
Migration globes

This flyer gives details concerning the workshop taking place on Thursday 3rd October from 1.30pm – 3.00pm, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Church Center of the UN, 777 UN Plaza (Corner of 44th and 1st Avenue), New York City

Power, people, communities: Building bridges for migrant, labour, & human rights

23 September 2013
rally

Flyer on the rally and march taking place on Wednesday 2 October 2013 across the Brooklyn bridge.

Pre-decision & information kit: Leaving South Africa to work in a foreign country

26 June 2013
Cover page South Africa PDK

Globalisation is offering increased opportunities for skilled people to migrate and while there are many opportunities, there are also many challenges to look out for.

Highlighting the role of unions in reducing out-migration and winning workers’ rights

19 May 2013
Geneva tram - migration poster

The year 2012 was the culmination of the fourth phase of the PSI Migration and Women Health and Social Care Workers Project implemented in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa in 2010-2012. The project’s objective was to strengthen the capacity of public service trade unions in addressing the causes, impact and challenges of migration by integrating responses to these migration challenges in their daily trade union work.

Event: High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD)

29 August 2013

For only the second time ever, United Nations’ Member States are organizing a High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD). The HLD 2013 will bring together high level representatives of governments, including heads of state, ministers, vice-ministers and senior officials in a series of plenary sessions and four round tables.

PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012

22 November 2012

As part of its World Congress events, PSI is holding a series of pre-congress meetings on key issues.

Global Unions Strategy Meeting on Labour Migration: Building Alternatives

17 September 2012
Rally

Invitation to the Global Unions Strategy Meeting on Labour Migration: Building Alternatives, 24 - 25 September 2012, Brussels

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

03 March 2012
Picture of african woman washing dishes

Union women from around the world are gathering in New York for the United Nations’ 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW56), starting on 27th February 2012. Focusing on decent work for rural women, quality public services, social protection and human rights, the trade union delegation to UNCSW56 will call on governments to commit to concrete measures to ensure that women living and working in rural areas enjoy opportunities for economic, social and human development.

Global Forum on Migration and Development - Civil Society Days

28 November 2011
Marching at the GFMD demo in Geneva on 2 December 2011

This year's GFMD Civil Society Days, focusing on the theme "Taking Action on Labour Migration, Development and the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families," will bring together 200 civil society delegates to discuss and make recommendations to governments in the areas of rights-based policy making for the benefit of migrant workers and their families, protection for undocumented migrant wokrers, labour mobility and development alternatives to migration.

International Day for Decent Work 2012

23 November 2011

On 7 October we celebrate the World Day for Decent Work. Public Services International (PSI) joins the international trade union movement in demanding decent work for all and an end to the continuous attacks on trade union rights around the world. We want jobs that provide decent salaries and social security with safe working conditions.