Ms Britta Lejon, President of Public Service International (PSI), has called for increased investment in public services across Africa to improve access and protect workers’ welfare.
Speaking at the 14th African Regional Conference of PSI in Accra, held under the theme “Quality Public Services for Dignity,” she said austerity measures and wage bill caps were affecting the delivery of essential services.
“Many governments are stuck in financial frameworks that freeze wages, block new recruitment, and push privatisations,” she stated.
Ms Lejon noted that budget cuts were creating a crisis that directly impacted citizens’ access to healthcare, sanitation, and other public services.
She cited findings from ActionAid indicating that 84 per cent of teachers across six African countries had experienced a drop in real income between 10 and 50 per cent since 2020.
Additionally, 97 per cent of health workers reported that their wages were insufficient to meet basic needs such as rent, food, and household expenses.
“This constant financial strain is felt directly by workers through non-payment of wages, delayed salaries, and the casualisation of labour, violating core ILO Conventions,” she emphasised.
Ms Lejon also addressed the climate crisis, noting that the region faced severe water and heat stress, with many countries warming at twice the global average.
“A just energy transition is impossible without resilient public services.
“It is essential to ensure that the rich nations, who cause the majority of global emissions, also pay so that the most vulnerable do not bear the most significant burdens,” she said.
The PSI President said trade union movements should continue advocating for fiscal space to support welfare, climate adaptation, and secure employment, with a focus on prioritising people over profit.
GNA
