Migration, Outsourcing
Fighting for the rights of migrants and asylum-seekers
Migration has major implications for public services not least because of the significant contribution of migrant workers to the provision of public services in many European countries. Thousands of public service employees across Europe work in areas related to migrations and asylum-seeking. Unfortunately, the European and national response to asylum-seekers has often fallen pitifully short of what should be expected from one of the wealthiest regions in the world and EPSU has been arguing hard for a change of approach, criticising the European Union’s policies which continue to focus on tightening borders, pushing back refugees and outsourcing asylum duties to third countries. EPSU, along with PSI, has also been calling for an end to privatisation and increased public investment in the public services that are vital to ensure the safe and effective integration of migrants and asylum-seekers into society. This briefing, prepared for EPSU's 2019 Congress provides some background on EPSU's activities in this area.
European countries failing to provide adequate migrant support services Public sector unions propose solutions
(Press Release, 26 October, Malaga, Spain) There are not enough public services or qualified public service workers available to assist migrants, and, migrants are forced to wait too long to
EPSU, Pardia and the Union of Finnish Border Guards Seminar of European Level Border Guards' Network (2 days)
Further to our first notice call for a Seminar of European level Border Guards organised by Finnish affiliate Pardia and the Union of Finnish Border Guards in cooperation with EPSU
18 December - IMD: We cannot treat migration and development without human rights
(17 December) EPSU supports the statement from Public Services International on International Migrants Day (IMD) that we reproduce below: According to the United Nations, there are around 215 million people
Portugal: unions convince Lisbon city council to reject outsourcing
In 2010 Lisbon city council decided to restructure its services to try to reduce its levels of spending. It published plans which included proposals for reducing the number of departments, transferring some work to the smaller district councils in the city and for contracting-out some services.
Finland: Many municipalities plan to recall work that has been outsourced
Many municipalities and joint authorities are disappointed with the results of outsourcing. And the dissatisfaction is so great that up to a fifth of these public organizations plan to take back outsourced work so that it can be done once again by their own personnel.