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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

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.

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.

Working in Norway

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 Norway.

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.

Informal Interactive Multi-stakeholder Hearing (preparatory process for UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants)

13 July 2016
Photo: Ben White/ CAFOD - Creative Commons

PSI will be attending the informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearing on 18 July 2016 as part of the lead-up to the UN high-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants to be held on 19 September 2016.

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.