I was honoured to speak at the first Public Services International Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Migration on 16 March in Bari, Italy.
The lack of adequately-funded quality public services and the jobs they create drives people to migrate.
The economic crisis is clearly increasing the desperation of migrants seeking work and better lives.
At the same time, we are seeing many countries—including Italy, adopt more restrictive immigration policies to protect local labour markets. Plus, we are seeing a policy shift whereby industrialised countries are using temporary or circular migration to address labour market shortages.
Women and young people are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking and forced labour under these crisis conditions.
We are also deeply disturbed by the trend of richer countries – rather than investing in quality public services and a sustainable workforce that build a strong domestic economy – turning to short-term solutions such as ‘poaching’ the skills of citizens from developing countries.
It does not need to be this way.
Public Services International and our affiliates are committed to upholding migrant workers’ rights and strengthening the quality public services that should provide us with stable jobs and services in our own countries.
For more information on the Euromed conference, click here.
Peter Waldorff, PSI General Secretary
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