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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

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.

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.

Tunisian fisherman, arrested for saving migrants lives, freed in Italy

24 September 2018

PSI commends the judicial decision in Palermo, Italy, to free the six Tunisian Fishermen imprisoned since the beginning of September. The fishermen, described as ‘suspected smugglers’ by the EU Frontex agency, were detained after saving the lives of 14 migrants stranded on the mediterranean.

PSI calls for release of Tunisian Fishermen arrested by Italian authorities for saving lives on the Mediterranean

05 September 2018

Six Tunisian Fishermen, arrested off the coast of Italy, could face human trafficking charges after rescuing a stranded migrant boat with 14 people on board.

UN Global Compact on Migration Concluded

02 August 2018

Friday 13 July 2018 was a historic day in the United Nations. After one year of preparatory thematic and regional consultations and multi-stakeholder dialogues, and six months of intense inter-governmental negotiations, UN Member States have concluded and agreed on the text of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

PSI General Secretary meets with Louise Arbour, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on International Migration

12 July 2018

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, meets with Louise Arbour, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on International Migration, in New York on the sides of the final round of negotiations this week towards a UN Global Compact on Migration.

“We can get stuck here for quite a while” - Reflections from a visit to an IDP Camp in Nigeria

09 July 2018

PSI, in partnership with and through the support of its affiliate ASSR, and Union to Union, Sweden, went to visit one of the largest camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The activity was part of a new project launched this year on Building Trade Union Capacity to Defend the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to Quality Public Services in Nigeria.

National Day of Action on June 30: #FamiliesBelongTogether

26 June 2018

On June 30, join PSI affiliate SEIU, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, ACLU, MoveOn, and United We Dream in rallies across the US for the “Families Belong Together” National Day of Action, demanding an end to the family separation policy of the Trump administration.

Trump has bowed to public pressure

21 June 2018

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has taken steps to formally file a complaint with the United Nations. The zero tolerance policy that separates children from their families violates international law. PSI urges affiliates to join the AFT campaign calling on the United Nation Human Rights Council to take immediate action.

AFT protests Trump policies at UN Headquarters

20 June 2018

On World Refugee Day, the American Federation of Teachers organized a protest in front of the United Nations in New York to call for an immediate end to the policy of the Trump administration to separate families of migrants and refugees at the border.

World Refugee Day: Rich countries must take their share of responsibility

20 June 2018

Imagine if, practically overnight, your country had to absorb an extra 40% of its own population in refugees. How would you provide accommodation, water, electricity, health, jobs or schools to all these people? What would you do to minimize rising tensions between the local population and the newcomers, considering that many of the former are also struggling to obtain these basic services?

European and Spanish migration policies must change and become people-focused

19 June 2018

Participants from the seminar on working conditions in the provision of services to migrants called for the authorities to provide services to migrants directly rather than outsource the work and for NGOs to complement rather than replace these services.

No Global Compact on Migration Without Decent Work for All

07 June 2018

Worker delegates at the International Labour Conference (ILC) Call for decent work for all in the UN Global Compact on Migration.

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.

Working in Germany

30 June 2015

This pre-departure booklet contains basic information about several topics to help Indian and Filipino health workers who are bound to work in Germany.

Working in Finland

29 June 2015

This pre-departure booklet contains basic information about several topics to help Indian and Filipino health workers who are bound to work in Finland.

Working in Denmark

29 June 2015

This pre-departure booklet contains basic information about several topics to help Indian and Filipino health workers who are bound to work in Denmark.

On Migrants Day, PSI reiterates its commitment to decent work and social protection for all

15 December 2014
Photo: Gustave Deghilage - Creative Commons

Public Services International (PSI) marks December 18th – International Migrants Day, with continued vigour and commitment to fight for decent work and social protection for migrant workers.

EUPHA Granada Declaration

14 May 2014
EUPHA logo

The European Public Health Association (EUPHA) from 9 to 12 April 2014 organised its 5th European Conference on Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health in Granada, Spain.

The participants adopted a declaration as they felt that "when many European countries are implementing austerity policies, it is especially important that the public health community should speak out on behalf of the poor and marginalized. Among them are many migrants, who for various reasons are especially vulnerable at this time.”

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.

Speech delivered by Jillian Roque (PSLINK) at the GFMD

13 May 2014

Speech delivered by Jillian Roque, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Philippines, at the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) at one of the breakout sessions on Boosting migrants and diasporas’ contributions to job creation and development in countries of residence, origin and heritage.

A passport to worker and union rights in Australia

17 February 2014
Passport

If you are working as a nurse in New South Wales (NSW) this passport will help you find out how to join the NSW Nurses’ Association.

Resolution 25: Labour brokers/employment agencies in the public sector

03 February 2014

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

Resolution 36: Migration and Discrimination

31 January 2014

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

Resolution 37: Ethical International Recruitment

30 January 2014

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

Thai Migrant Workers' Network statement on International Migrants' Day

19 December 2013

The State Enterprise Workers' Relation Confederation of Thailand (SERC) and Migrant Workers Right Network (MWRN) recognise the significant contribution of international migrants in Thailand and have organised joint activities to campaign for protection of migrants' rights and to develop migrant quality of life to the same level as Thai workers.

PSI Statement: December 18 - International Migrants Day

12 December 2013

Public Services International joins the international community in commemorating the millions of migrant workers and their families all over the world and re-affirming our commitment to uphold their dignity and human rights.

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.

ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting on Access of Refugees to the Labour Market

01 July 2016

PSI will be participating in the ILO tripartite technical meeting on the access of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to the labour market that will be held at the ILO in Geneva from 5-7 July 2016. This meeting comes at a time when the international community is facing an escalation of forced human displacement worldwide.

Route of Shame 2016: Walk for social justice!

25 May 2016

PSI and global trade unionists walked for social justice in Geneva. Around the world, populist politicians are raising the flag of racism and xenophobia to hide the fact that they represent the interests of the few, not the many. PSI calls for global solidarity with refugees and the respect of their human rights.

Public services welcoming migrants

05 February 2016

PSI, EPSU & ETUI are organising a seminar on “Public Services Welcoming Migrants: Strengthening the role of public service trade unions in the protection of human rights and delivery of public services to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees”

Migrants, Refugees and Climate Change: the Trade Union Response

07 December 2015

At a time when racism is growing and negative narratives are growing against refugees and migrants fleeing poverty and oil wars, this 2-hours workshop at the Climate Generation Areas of Paris COP 21 organised by PSI affiliate the Public and Commercial Services Union (UK), combined a panel discussion and a debate with the audience.

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.

Philippines Migration Project Planning and Stakeholders Meeting

17 June 2015

The Philippines Project Monitoring and Stakeholder Meetings within the PSI’s Decent Work and Social Protection for Migrant Workers in the Public Services Project will bring together PSI affiliates in the Philippines, Germany and Finland, other trade union partners, government agencies, policy makers, ethical recruiters, civil society organizations and migrant associations in order to tackle the challenges to decent work and social protection for migrant workers.

7th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD)

12 May 2014

The GFMD Civil Society Days will take place on 12th-13th May 2014 at the Brewery Conference Centre, Stockholm. A shared session with governments, known as the Common Space, will be held in the same venue on the 14th of May. The GFMD Government Days will take place at the same location on 15th - 16th of May.

Joint ILO-PSI Training and Planning Workshop on Labour Migration

13 December 2013

This event is part of a Joint PSI and ILO ACTRAV project on labour migration in Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Public Service Trade Union Action Planning Meeting on Social Protection for Migrant Workers

25 November 2013

Public Services International (PSI), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization Decent Work Across Borders Project (ILO DWAB): a Pilot Project for Migrant Health Professionals and Skilled Workers, funded by the European Union, is organising a “Public Service Trade Union Action Planning Meeting on Social Protection for Migrant Workers,” 28-30 November 2013, Berlin, Germany.

World Day for Decent Work 2013

03 October 2013

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.

Event: Peoples’ Global Action on Migration and Development

29 August 2013

The 2013 People’s Global Action on Migration, Development & Human Rights (PGA) is an independent civil society and grassroots event held in conjunction with the 2013 UN High Level Dialogue on Migration & Development (HLD).

Preparatory panel event to the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development

29 August 2013

The Global Unions, including PSI, will be holding a preparatory panel event to the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development on 2nd October: “Migration and Development: A Decent Work Issue.”

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.