Description: Basic public services have been, and continue to be targeted for reforms through liberalization, in particular through privatisation and commercialisation. Policies leading to the liberalization of public education, public health services, and public prisons are resulting in widening social disparities, diminishing access to health services and education for the poor, leading to worsening health outcomes for the poor, limiting opportunities for poor youth and increasing insecurity for employees in the sectors. Vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected, including women, children and the elderly. Changes are being driven by international financial institutions. In 2004/05, a state-of-the-art review was carried out by the ILO, Public Services International, and Education International examining the impacts of the liberalization of public services on the social and economic security of workers in those public services. Findings reveal the mechanisms used by private companies to enter the education, health care and prison services "markets" in developing and industrialized countries. The Americanization of services is pervasive in many countries, while numerous European companies have obtained a significant market share in various key service areas. Findings from the study reveal that overall the employment security, income security, collective voice representation security, working conditions, and skills development security of workers has rapidly diminished in the newly privatised sectors.