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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 becomes member of EPIC

05 December 2018

Since November this year, PSI has become a member of the Equal Pay International Coalition-EPIC. Among the 15 members, PSI is the second global union federation taking action as a member of EPIC to reduce the gender pay gap.

Union strategies to bring public services back in-house

04 December 2018

PSI Global Labour Remunicipalisation workshop is taking place at the ILO in Geneva from 4-5 December. Trade union affiliates from around the world are showcasing local experiences of remunicipalisation and giving union strategies to bring public services back in-house.

PSI delegation brings the voice of public service workers to African mayors’ and local governments’ summit for the first time

30 November 2018
The PSI delegation at Africities2018: from the right, PSI Sub-regional Secretary for English-speaking Africa Everline Aketch (PSI Nairobi); PSI Tax and Trade Coordinator Daniel Oberko (PSI Lomé), Fatou Diouf (SATSE Senegal) and Hon. Roba Duba (General Secretary KCGWU Kenya)

A PSI African and Arab Countries’ trade union delegation took part for the first time in AFRICITIES 2018, the eighth edition of the largest regional mayors' and local authorities gathering that took place in Marrakech, Morocco, on 20-24 November 2018. Organized by the African chapter of the United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), it was held under the theme of “The transition to sustainable cities and territories: the role of local and subnational governments of Africa”.

Global wage growth lowest since 2008

30 November 2018

Global wage growth in 2017 fell to its lowest rate since 2008, far below levels before the global financial crisis, according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) report. The gender pay gap, at about 20 per cent globally, remains unacceptably high.

PSI Global Labour Remunicipalisation Workshop (Geneva)

30 November 2018

This workshop on “Building union strategies to bring public services back in-house” is open to PSI trade union representatives with a direct experience of remunicipalising public services and/or with an interest in peer learning about these processes with a view to engage and drive remunicipalisation processes in the future.

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.

Privatising Power: UK aid funds energy privatisation in Nigeria

17 March 2015

This new research, released on 17 March, by campaign group Global Justice Now shows that since 2002, £140 million of UK aid money has been spent by the Department for International Development (DfID) on projects to support the privatisation of Nigeria’s energy system, with disastrous consequences for people in Nigeria.

Negotiating Healthy Trade in Australia

03 March 2015

This report published by the Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation provides an overview of the dimensions of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) relevant to health, the process and findings of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - including characterising the potential health impacts based on the literature and stakeholder input - and recommendations to the Australian Government to avoid or mitigate potential harms from the TPP. The authors intend for the HIA to inform negotiations and health sector advocacy on the TPP.

Middle East and North Africa Region Briefing on Tax Justice

01 March 2015

This briefing paper written by Jane Lethbridge, PSIRU, was commissioned by Public Services International (PSI)

Report: Unhappy Meal

27 February 2015

This report is the product of a coalition of European and American trade unions, representing more than 15 million workers in different sectors of the economy in 40 countries, and War on Want, the U.K.-based anti-poverty campaign group. The members of the coalition work towards an economy built on decent jobs and a fair, progressive tax system at the global, E.U., and national levels. It is the first time that we have joined forces to highlight an example of corporate tax avoidance, a critical issue a¬ecting the future of democracy and the welfare state.

Wealth: Having It All and Wanting More

25 February 2015

This research paper published by Oxfam International shows that the richest 1 percent have seen their share of global wealth increase from 44 percent in 2009 to 48 percent in 2014 and at this rate will be more than 50 percent in 2016.

Banner: Right to strike

13 February 2015

Use these banners in your Right to Strike activities on 18 February and until 21 March.

The Reliable Performance of Public Water Services

19 January 2015
The Reliable Performance of Public Water Services

This leaflet on water privatization in Jakarta is the forth in a series of four leaflets published by Public Services International, Transnational Institute, Amrta Institute for Water Literacy and Jakarta Water Trade Union.

PSI and EI Cooperation Agreement

18 December 2014

On 18th December 2014, PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, and EI General Secretary, Fred Van Leeuwen, signed a cooperation agreement that will strengthen public sector unions in their joint action.

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.

Stand for democracy at work on Human Rights Day!

10 December 2014
SEIU, US. Photo: Carrie Sloan, Creative Commons

“Everyone must enjoy full access to decent work, education, health, safety and peace,” says Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary. On International Human Rights Day, PSI calls on its affiliates and activists to unite and stand firm against the attack on core labour rights and freedoms.

COP20: The public option in green policies

09 December 2014
Windmills - Photo: Pablo LordFerguson (Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

As the UN Climate Change Summit, COP20, in Lima, Peru, draws to an end, PSI highlights the special role of local and national government structures in developing, implementing and monitoring green policies.

Here to stay: Water remunicipalisation as a global trend

01 December 2014
Here to stay

On 13 November 2014, the Transnational Institute (TNI), Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) and the Multinational Observatory released a new report called “Here to stay: Water remunicipalisation as a global trend”.

Poster: International day for the elimination of violence against women 2014

25 November 2014
International day for the elimination of violence against women

The PSI poster for the International day for the elimination of violence against women, that took place on 25 November 2014, is available for download in English, French and Spanish.

CETA: Trading away democracy

20 November 2014

The EU's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada could unleash a wave of corporate lawsuits against Canada, the EU and its member states – including through the Canadian subsidiaries of US multinational corporations. This in-depth analysis of CETA’s investor rights by Corporate Europe Observatory and 14 other environmental NGOs, citizens’ groups and workers unions from both sides of the Atlantic outlines the threats.

Outcomes of PSI Steering Comittee SC-18

17 November 2014

PSI Steering Committee (SC-18) met in Geneva on 12-13 November 2014.

The agenda covered all items relating to the implementation of the Programme of Action with a special focus on the global campaigns PSI is leading on trade agreements and tax justice.