Workers Resisting and Rebuilding Public Services: Regional Report 2020-2025

The report documents the collective actions carried by unions across Africa and the Arab region against privatisation, austerity, conflict, gender-based violence, migration abuses, attacks on public services, and threats to workers’ rights. It affirms public ownership, social justice, peace, and solidarity as central to protecting workers, communities, and democratic governance.

Resolution #1: African and Arab countries  Regional Report of activities (2020-2025)

Unions across the region led coordinated actions through resolutions, press conferences, campaigns, and solidarity initiatives to confront privatisation, austerity, repression, conflict, and human rights abuses. They mobilised workers, engaged governments and international institutions, defended public services, and stood in solidarity with workers and communities affected by war, displacement, gender-based violence, and economic hardship.

These efforts produced tangible gains, including successful union-led turnaround programmes in public utilities, growing resistance to privatisation, stronger regional solidarity, increased visibility of workers’ struggles, and clearer accountability demands on governments, donors, and foreign investors. Unions also strengthened their role in policy debates, collective bargaining, and international advocacy, reinforcing public confidence in worker-led solutions.

Looking ahead, the region’s unions aim to deepen coordination, expand campaigns for public ownership and investment, advance gender justice and migrant rights, strengthen protection for workers in conflict zones, and build resilient public health, energy, water, and social systems. The ambition is to secure lasting peace, dignity, and decent work through democratic governance, strong public services, and sustained worker solidarity across borders.

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