Representatives of PSI affiliates in Sweden, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria and Tunisia, civil society organisations, experts, and representatives from Government and International Agencies, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) participated in the hybrid Roundtable Discussion, where they discussed the following topics:

• Multiple crisis that we call the “Triple Cs”, Covid, Conflicts and the Climate Crisis. What are your reflections on this based on your experience in your country and in the region?

• Based on these challenges, how can we ensure access by refugees and migrants and host communities to human rights, decent work, social protection and quality public services?

• What is the role of trade unions in responding to these needs?

• What is the role of civil society?

• How can we work together to support the national implementation of the UN Global Compact on Refugees and the UN Global Compact on Migration? 

35 participants (F: 20, M: 15) representing all PSI affiliated unions in the 4 involved countries participated in the meeting, along with the International Secretaries of four Swedish affiliates who are partners in the project, namely, Maria Ostberg-Svanelind (Akademikerförbundet SSR), Nina Bergman (Vardforbundet), Magnus Runsten  (ST) and Åsa Janlöv (Vision). Also in the meeting were PSI staff, Genevieve Gencianos, Migration Programme Coordinator, Luis Monje, Projects Officer, Najwa Hanna, PSI Arab Sub Regional Secretary and Chahnaz El Zein, Project Coordinator. 

16 unionists from PSI Swedish partners, PSI staff, PSI affiliated unions conducted a delegation visit to the ILO Workers’ Centre in Al-Hasan Industrial City in Irbid where they met with the center’s official who presented the center’s activities and services for the migrant workers. The delegation met with 30 migrant workers from India, Bangladesh and Madagascar who shared their stories, their living conditions and challenges faced in the workplace.

The second day of the workshop was devoted to a project evaluation session, with the participants working in small groups and in plenary, where they identified the main achievements, challenges and trade union strategies under the PSI project “Human Rights, Trade Unions and Quality Public Services, for Refugees and Migrant Workers in the MENA Region.”