Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you will bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Introduction and adoption of the Conference agenda
- Election of the Co-chairs of the Conference
- Election of the Standing Orders Committee members
- Election of the Credentials Committee members
- Election of the Tellers
- National anthem of Ghana
- Workers’ solidarity song
- Welcome speech by Ghana NCC Chair,Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo,
- Solidarity Messages of Organised Labour of Ghana
- Opening statements by PSI Vice-President, Africa & Arab Countries, Prince Peters Adeyemi, President of Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigeria
- Address by the PSI General Secretary, Daniel Bertossa
- Opening address by PSI President, Britta Lejon
- Opening of Conference by His Excellency Mr. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana,
- Vote of thanks
Background
The world of work is undergoing rapid and disruptive changes that are posing significant challenges to public services and public sector workers. In the public sector, this trend is compounded by regressive labor reforms, outsourcing, and deliberate attacks on trade union rights, leading to shrinking union density and weakening collective bargaining power. Privatization and austerity gut healthcare, education, water, and sanitation systems—deepening inequality, undermining workers' rights, and excluding the most vulnerable from access. Additionally, digitalisation has, in practice, become a double-edged sword, exposing the deep fault lines of inequality and exploitation. Rather than empowering workers and improving services, it has been weaponized to erode labour rights, replace secure employment with precarious gig work and marginalize unions in the name of efficiency.
Public service unions have a key role to play in demanding dignity, equity, and justice in the provision of quality public services.
Objective
The two-hour panel session- Reclaiming Public Services for Dignity-will highlight examples of privatisation of public services, austerity measures, abuse of trade union rights and attacks on union leaders, and digitalization of public services. Panel members will then share alternatives and examples of how unions and their allies can demand quality public services. As the right to strike is being attacked, the session will receive an update on the status of the case submitted to the ICJ by ITUC seeking the interpretation of C87.
Background
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA), adopted in 1995, was a groundbreaking political and normative commitment that recognised violence against women, including in the workplace, as a structural and systemic barrier to gender equality. It called on governments, employers, and international institutions to acknowledge the issue and take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate it. However, it relied primarily on political will and voluntary policy changes, rather than binding international obligations.
In contrast, the ILO’s Convention No. 190, adopted in 2019, represents a paradigm shift, from recognizing the problem to establishing a binding international legal framework. C190 sets out clear rights and responsibilities for states and employers and recognizes gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) as a threat to decent work and a systemic issue in the world of work.
This year, the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women marked the 30th anniversary of the BDPA. It provided a critical opportunity to evaluate progress made and reaffirm new political commitments. In its Political Declaration, Member States acknowledged that new challenges have emerged concerning violence against women and committed to taking effective action against violence and harassment, including in the world of work.
This progress reflects a growing synergy between political commitment and legal enforcement, especially between Beijing +30 and the ILO agenda, in the lead-up to the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC), which will hold a General Discussion on “Advancing the Transformative Agenda for Gender Equality at Work.” This discussion represents a vital step towards achieving gender justice.
In this context, PSI-affiliated unions in Africa and Arab countries are called to deepen their understanding and reinforce their actions. In the region, intersecting forms of violence, conservative legal frameworks, and high levels of informality present both challenges and opportunities for transformative trade union action towards gender equality.
Objective
The panel will examine how the ILO, governments, and trade unions can strengthen their efforts to address gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the world of work. It will build on the political commitments of the Beijing Platform for Action and contribute to preparations for the upcoming ILC General Discussion on Advancing the Transformative Agenda for Gender Equality at Work, with a specific focus on the Africa and Arab countries region.
Methodology
The panel will be structured as a 90-minute moderated conversation involving key actors in the world of work with a more political and strategic approach, helping to prepare the region for the discussions at the ILC 2026 General Discussion — particularly the inclusion of the gender transformative agenda as one of the main topics. The panel discussions will focus on world of work-related issues, conflict, and crisis situations within the region and their impact on GBV.
- Report from the Standing Orders Committee and adoption
- Report from the Credentials Committee and adoption
Recognition of dignitaries & Solidarity Messages
Keynote Speaker: Conference theme “Quality Public Services for Dignity”
- Empowering Education Support Personnel in Africa and MENA: Challenges and Solutions
- Enhancing Social dialogue in waste management
- Public financing of universal health and social care
- Regional Agenda on digitalisation
Strengthening the Backbone of Education: Addressing Challenges Facing Education Support Personnel (ESP) in Africa and MENA
Background
Education Support Personnel (ESP)—including bursars, cleaners, security staff, ICT technicians, librarians, cooks, lab assistants, and other non-teaching staff—are essential to the functioning of inclusive, quality, and equitable public education. They ensure safe learning environments, administrative efficiency, and the well-being of learners and teaching staff.
Yet, across Africa and MENA, ESPs remain undervalued and systematically excluded from national education plans and public employment frameworks. Austerity-driven structural adjustment programs and domestic underinvestment in education systems have worsened their working conditions. Key challenges include: chronic understaffing due to wage bill ceilings and recruitment freezes, outsourcing of core services, increasing casualization and insecurity, exclusion from professional development and education sector reforms, delayed or non-existent career progression mechanisms and, poor enforcement of labour protections and collective bargaining rights.
The compounded effect of these trends undermines public education, weakens morale, and increases inequality within education institutions.
Agenda
11:00-11:10 - Opening & Framing of the Session
Welcome remarks, objectives, and outline of the session; recognition of ESPs’ role in quality public education.
- Moderator Musa Okello, Chairperson, ESCW Network
11:10-11:25 - Session 1: Understanding the Role and Invisibility of ESPs
Real-life perspectives from an ESP worker; challenges of workload intensification, casualization, and policy neglect.
- Speaker to be confirmed
11:25-11:35 - Audience Discussion
Short Q&A to capture reflections and experiences from participants related to ESP visibility and working conditions.Moderator:
- Everline Aketch, PhD, Sub-Regional Secretary, PSI
11:35-11:55 - Session 2: Global and National Pressures – Dual Forces Undermining ESPs
How IMF/World Bank wage ceilings and national underinvestment intersect to undermine ESP welfare; political will needed to address these forces.
- Charles Mukhwaya, PhD, General Secretary, KUSU
11:55-12:05 Audience Discussion
Reactions and questions from participants, linking the presentation to their national contexts.Moderator:
- Everline Aketch, PhD, Sub-Regional Secretary, PSI
12:05-12:25 Session 3: Organizing Against Recruitment Bans and Invisibility
Examples of union-led campaigns, policy dialogues, and alliances to challenge recruitment freezes and secure recognition for ESPs.
- Peters A. Adeyemi JP, Vice President, PSI & General Secretary, NASU
12:25-12:35 - Audience Discussion
Q&A focusing on strategies that participants’ unions could replicate.Moderator:
- Everline Aketch, PhD, Sub-Regional Secretary, PSI
12:35-12:55 - Session 4: Lessons from Elsewhere – Comparative Global Practices
How education reinvestment and policy reforms in the Global North have improved ESP recognition and working conditions.
- TBC (European Education Union-eg FNV)
12:55-13:10 Plenary Discussion
Open exchange across all session themes; participants share key insights, union priorities, and action proposals.
- All Participants
13:10-13:25 Wrap-Up & Key Recommendations
Consolidated summary of strategies, commitments, and next steps for unions, governments, and PSI.
- Everline Aketch, PhD, Sub-Regional Secretary, PSI
13:25-13:30 Closing Remarks
Appreciation to speakers, participants, and PSI leadership; reaffirmation of commitment to strengthening ESP advocacy.Moderator:
- Everline Aketch, PhD, Sub-Regional Secretary, PSI
Enhancing social dialogue at local government level for local QPS and decent jobs
Background
Effective and adequate solid waste management is among the most urgent urban challenges facing African cities today. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and changing consumption patterns have led to an exponential increase in waste generation. Yet, many local authorities continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure and financing, limited resources, and inefficient service delivery systems. Poorly managed solid waste contributes to environmental degradation, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions – further worsening climate change. Faced with all these problems, local governments have often found it easier to outsource waste collection, landfill site management and other solid waste management tasks. However, in many countries this has led to a situation of insecure and poorly paid jobs, and poor working conditions (including inadequate OSH provisions) for those who collect and dispose of the waste, and disjointed, inequitable and inefficient delivery of solid waste management services to communities.
In 2021 PSI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UCLG Africa (United Cities and Local Governments Africa).As part of implementing this MOU, PSI and UCLG Africa agreed on a joint project – promoting social dialogue at the local level in order to strengthen quality public services and decent jobs, with a specific focus on the solid waste management sector. This project is in line with the PSI LRG Global Network Action Plan 2022 – 2027, which calls for LRG PSI affiliated trade unions to engage in “constructive social dialogue with progressive LRG employers to enhance policy leverage on shared priorities.” By enhancing social dialogue at the local level between trade unions and local government, inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable waste management systems, with decent jobs for solid waste management workers, can be promoted.
As part of this project, PSI has developed education and training material on pursuing social dialogue in the solid waste management sector. We have also engaged with LRG affiliates in Africa around this material and around their experiences of social dialogue and collective bargaining broadly, as well as more specifically in the solid waste management sector.
Objective
The two-hour panel session - Enhancing social dialogue in solid waste management at Local Government level for local QPS and decent jobs – will be an opportunity for trade unions in the LRG sector to share with other public service trade unions their experiences of using social dialogue processes, specifically in the solid waste management sector, to promote Quality Public Services and Decent Jobs. It will also be an opportunity to launch the education and training material on social dialogue at a local level, and to strengthen the relationship with UCLG Africa in furtherance of the MOU of 2021. There will also be a focus on the potential for the re-municipalisation of solid waste management services in the light of the pervasive privatisation happening in the sector.
Agenda
Times |
Item |
Speakers |
10 min |
Welcome, introduction to the side event, objectives |
Sandra van Niekerk |
Session 1 |
LRG trade unions organizing solid waste management workers: the challenges and successes |
|
15 min |
Experience from Tanzania: the challenges of organizing workers in solid waste management |
Mr Tumaini Nyamhokya – National Chairman of TALGWU, Tanzania, and chair of AMALGUN |
15 min |
Reflections from the floor: LRG Trade Unions from other countries share their experiences |
Uganda, Nigeria and others |
5 min |
Roundup |
|
Session 2 |
Experiences of Collective Bargaining and Social Dialogue at local level |
|
10 min |
Challenges faced by trade unions in engaging in social dialogue and reaching agreements |
Hon. Roba Duba, GS of Kenya County Government Workers Union |
10 min |
Negotiating for decent work for informal waste workers |
Daria Cibrario, PSI Senior Policy Officer, LRG sector/OSH/Research |
10 min |
Senegal: a long but successful struggle for collective bargaining rights |
GS of SNTCLS (TBC) |
15 min |
Discussion |
|
Session 3 |
Education and training material as tools to empower LRG affiliates for effective social dialogue and to promote re-municipalisation |
|
15 min |
Introduction of remunicipalisation and social dialogue training material |
Daria Cibrario, PSI Senior Policy Officer, LRG sector/OSH/Research |
10 min |
Discussion |
|
Session 4 |
Conclusion |
|
10 min |
Discussion on: Building solidarity, Strengthening AMALGUN |
Achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage and Quality Health and Social Care Services in Africa and the Arab Region through Public Healthcare Financing: Bringing Patients, Communities, and Trade Unions to Fight for the Future.
Background
Pursuing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and providing quality health and social care services in Africa and the Arab Region represent a fundamental global imperative, intertwined with human rights, economic development, and social stability. Current healthcare systems in Africa and the Arab Region grapple with severe underfunding, critical shortages of skilled health workers exacerbated by brain drain and austerity measures, and a complex epidemiological landscape marked by both communicable and rapidly rising non-communicable diseases. Access to essential medicines remains a formidable barrier, particularly in conflict-affected zones, while profound regional and urban-rural disparities further marginalise vulnerable populations. Public healthcare financing models often prove inadequate for these contexts, leading to catastrophic out-of-pocket spending that pushes millions into poverty. Compounding these issues are challenges of donor dependency, overwhelming debt burdens, and pervasive governance deficiencies, including corruption and inefficient resource allocation. Achieving UHC and quality public healthcare services requires sustained political will, transparent governance, and a collective commitment to health as a shared societal responsibility, ensuring no individual is left behind in the fight for a healthier future. Trade Unions in the healthcare service sector must be at the forefront of advocacy and campaigns for well-resourced, quality public health services to achieve the WHO target of UHC.
Objectives
The panel session's objective is to examine how Universal Healthcare Coverage through Quality Health and Social Care Services can be achieved in Africa and the Arab Region through proper healthcare financing and explore how Trade Unions and communities can build synergy to fight for an equitable future that promotes universal health coverage. In this discussion, healthcare professionals, academics, policymakers, trade union representatives, and community leaders will share their insights and experiences.
Agenda
Times |
Item |
Speakers |
10 min |
Welcome, introduction to the side event, and objectives |
Abi Badru |
Session 1 |
Privatisation in the Healthcare sector: Analysing the increasing involvement of non-governmental entities in the financing and delivery of healthcare services |
|
10 min |
Experience from Kenya: The privatisation of public healthcare, its negative impacts, and how trade unions can be a powerful force in resisting the privatisation of public healthcare. |
Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah National Secretary General Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union. (KMPDU) |
10 min |
Reflection from the floor: trade unions from other countries share their experiences |
South Africa, Nigeria and others |
5 min |
Roundup |
Moderator |
Session 2 |
Framing the Challenge and the Promise of Health and Care Public Financing |
|
10 min |
Health Workforce Labour Market Analysis and its implications for Public Healthcare Financing. |
Dr Fiona Braka WHO Country Rep Ghana |
10min |
Public Health Financing: Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through sustainable and equitable funding models. |
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Minister of Health, Ghana |
5 min |
Reflection from the Floor: Trade Union Leaders Share Their Perspectives. |
South Africa, Uganda, Senegal and others |
Session 3 |
The Global Health Workforce Migration |
|
10 min |
Promoting Decent Work and Social Protection in Health and Care Workforce Migration |
Kwena Daniel Manamela, General Secretary DENOSA |
5 min |
Launch of the PSI Project on Capacity building and social dialogue on Health and Care workforce Migration in Ghana and Nigeria |
Luis Monje PSI Projects Officer |
5 min |
Discussions |
Nigeria, Ghana, others |
Session 4 |
Conclusion |
|
10 min |
Discussion on: Building Solidarity and Strengthening Health Sector Networks in the region |
Daniel Oberko PSI Regional Secretary |
Regional Agenda on Digitalization for Quality Public Services
Background
The PSI Digitalization team will convene a workshop during AFRECON on the impact of digitalization on public services. The workshop will discuss the current digitalization trends globally and regionally. It will provide affiliates with an understanding of some of the key challenges facing workers. The aim of the workshop is to build possible pathways through collective brainstorming on what the content of a worker-led Procurement, Policy and Workplace could be across these three sites of action in the face of increasing digitalization. This workshop will lay the foundation for the region’s continued work on creating a set of policies that will ensure Quality Public Services for Dignity.
Africa and Arab countries are becoming increasingly digitalized. Whilst this is not all negative, current digitalization trends point in the direction of an increasing privatization of public services, growing dependency on foreign providers of digital public infrastructure and systems, loss of public service autonomy, environmental degradation through data centers and mining for rare minerals and a fragmentation of the labour force. Yet current geo-political developments, not least in relation to the uncertainties around global trade, can be an opportunity for the region to devise and demand their own digital industrial policy.
It is imperative that trade unions and their governments are cognizant of the impacts, which are increasingly being documented: increased precarity for workers, the privatization of public infrastructure and therefore public services, repressive surveillance, the erosion of national sovereignty, the depletion of energy and water resources, and rising authoritarianism. Too often, ostensibly public interest frameworks for investment in digital technologies only serve to entrench these trends and carve out new markets for Big Tech.
It is against this background that PSIs two digital consultants, Professor Hannah Johnston who will join us remotely, and Dr. Christina Colclough who will be onsite, will run the workshop. This is for all affiliates who are interested in learning more about the impacts of digitalization, and in discussing policy and workplace paths forward to ensure Quality Public Services for Dignity across the region.
Objective of the Panel
This two-hour workshop aims first to provide affiliates with a baseline knowledge of the impacts of digitalization on public services and work. It will do so by drawing on global tendencies and regional particularities presented by the two speakers. It will also gather input from affiliates to support PSI Africa and MENA’s work going forward on establishing a set of policies in support of the conference’s theme: Quality Public Services for Dignity. This will happen through table discussions and facilitated presentations. As part of this section, the two speakers will present some of PSIs recommendations for worker-led digital change and discuss with participants what a worker-led digital industrial policy could look like.
Discussion and adoption of the Resolutions
Protecting Those Who Heal: Fighting Against Violence for Health Workers in Conflict Zones in Africa and the MENA Region
Background
Across Africa and the Arab region, health workers are caught in the crossfire of escalating conflicts and crises. They face bombings, kidnappings, threats, and the systematic destruction of healthcare infrastructure. From the eastern DRC and the Anglophone regions of Cameroon to the war-torn zones of Palestine and the insurgency-plagued states of Nigeria, health professionals are working in conditions of extreme danger and fear—yet they persist, committed to saving lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 7,000 attacks on health care since 2018. These violations are not isolated incidents. They represent a pattern of disregard for international humanitarian law and a growing crisis that undermines both the safety of health workers and the resilience of public health systems.
Health workers in conflict zones endure not only physical risks but also professional abandonment: lack of protective equipment, unpaid salaries, burnout, and minimal psychological support. Unions in these regions face extreme difficulties in defending their members.
This session seeks to center these voices, document abuses, and explore how trade unions and allies can mobilize globally to protect those who heal.
Objective
This panel will shed light on the violence faced by health workers in conflict zones and explore how public service unions and international allies can organize solidarity, influence global health governance, and push for accountability.
Background
In July 2024, the region developed a survey to identify the priorities of its 164 affiliates. A key component of their priorities is the need to build power through organizing to increase density within the public sector, organizing within privatized public services, and recruiting more public sector unions to affiliate to PSI. data received from about 96 affiliates suggests more than 50 public sector potential affiliates. Existing affiliates also have the potential to recruit in new areas, including privatised public services, and increase their membership by between 1,000 and 5,000 each year from 2025 to 2030.
Work is underway and progress is being made. Activities are taking in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya, representing a significant step towards strengthening union power at the national level. Unions in Ghana and Kenya have expanded into recruiting in private hospitals. In Zimbabwe, the nursing union is being supported to expand its recruitment efforts in public health facilities. In Senegal, Nigeria, and Zambia, affiliates are organizing community health workers. In Senegal, unions in the water sector are being supported through research to confront corporate abuse of workers' rights, poor service delivery and illicit financial flows. This enhances their power and ability to organize. A PSI web app has been developed to support affiliates in managing membership data.
Objectives
The one-hour session-Overview of regional organizing and growth strategy-will provide insight on the relevance of the regional organizing and growth strategy and shed light on some of the successes in the countries where activities are already taking place.
- Statement by SEIU President
- Launch of the “Organize for dignity (2026-2030)”
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.
Please note this that this workshop is limited to specific countries and unions. If you want to attend you may reach out to charlotte.kalanbani@world-psi.org. Note that you wll bear the cost of participation.