Global Worker Rights Face Alarming Decline: No Top-Rated Country Expected in 10 Years
Geneva – A New Report Reveals a disturbing trend: if current conditions persist, no nation will achieve the highest rating for respecting worker rights within the next decade. the International Trade Union Confederation (Ituc) released its 2025 Global Rights Index, painting a grim picture of eroding protections worldwide. the Index, unveiled at the International Labor Organization (Ilo) in Geneva, highlights significant regressions and coordinated attacks on labor standards.
Key Findings: A World in Decline
The Ituc’s research shows a worrying deterioration in several key areas critical to worker rights and well-being globally.
- Three out of five regions experienced worsened conditions, with the Americas (3.68) and Europe (2.78) hitting their lowest scores. europe’s rapid decline from 1.84 in 2014 is especially alarming.
- Only seven of 151 examined countries (under 5%) achieved the top rating, a stark contrast to the 18 countries that held this distinction ten years prior.
- The middle East and North Africa (Mena) region remains the worst globally for working people, averaging a score of 4.68.
“The Global Legal Index of the Ituc 2025 reveals the consequences of betrayal on the system founded after the Second World War on democracy, trade union rights and justice,” said Ituc General Secretary Luc Triangle.
Triangle added, “For decades, deregulation, neoliberalism and neglect by politics have contributed to the decline of employee rights… It is indeed a conscious decision that can be reversed.”
The Ten Worst Countries for Workers
The following nations are identified as the most challenging environments for employed individuals:
- Egypt
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Türkiye
- Tunisia
Strike Rights and Collective Bargaining Under Attack
The report exposes widespread violations of fundamental labor rights. Alarming statistics reveal:
- 87% of countries have violated the right to strike.
- 80% have infringed upon collective bargaining rights.
- Access to justice for workers was restricted in 72% of countries,marking an unprecedented low.
Conflict Zones: Where rights Vanish
in twelve countries, conflict and the breakdown of the rule of law have led to the lowest possible rating (5+). These nations include:
Afghanistan, Burundi, Haiti, Yemen, Libya, Myanmar, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and the Central African Republic.
Isolated Improvements and Deteriorations
Amidst the bleak landscape, a few countries showed signs of progress. Australia,Mexico,and Oman managed to improve their ratings in 2025.
However, the number of countries with worsening ratings outnumbered improvements. Argentina, Costa Rica, Georgia, Italy, Mauritania, Niger, and Panama all experienced a decline in their scores.
Restrictions on Union Activities
Across numerous nations, governments actively hindered union operations:
- 75% of states have excluded workers from the right to establish and join unions.
- 74% have obstructed the registration of unions.
- 45% have curtailed freedom of speech and assembly.
In 2023,71 countries saw workers arrested and detained,while 40 countries saw workers exposed to violence.
Ituc’s Call to Action
The Ituc is actively addressing these issues at the International Labour Conference (Iak), focusing on legal violations, protections in the platform economy, biological hazards in the workplace, and regulating informal employment.
A Special Session on the Global Rights Index 2025 will take place at Iak on June 10th, featuring reports from union representatives in some of the world’s worst-ranked countries.
The Ituc’s General Secretary, luc Triangle, and Head of legal Department, Paapa Danquah, will deliver speeches.
The Global Rights Index provides a comprehensive overview of worker rights in 151 countries, using 97 indicators from Ilo agreements and judgments.
Understanding Global Worker Rights: an Evergreen Perspective
Worker rights are not merely legal entitlements; they are fundamental human rights essential for a just and equitable society. These rights encompass the freedom to organize, bargain collectively, and work in safe conditions without discrimination or coercion. Respecting and upholding worker rights is crucial for promoting economic development, social stability, and democratic governance.
The ongoing decline in worker rights,as highlighted by the Ituc’s report,underscores the urgent need for action. Governments, employers, and international organizations must work together to reverse this trend and ensure that all workers can enjoy their fundamental rights.
Recent Developments:
- Increased Informal Employment: The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of the informal sector, leaving many workers without legal protections or social security benefits.
- Rise of the Gig Economy: The proliferation of online platforms and gig work has created new challenges for labor regulation, as many gig workers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, denying them basic rights and benefits.
- Supply chain Exploitation: Global supply chains frequently enough involve complex networks of subcontractors, making it difficult to monitor and enforce labor standards. Many workers in these supply chains face low wages, unsafe working conditions, and restrictions on their freedom of association.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the key findings of the 2025 Global rights Index regarding worker rights? The Index reveals worsening conditions in three out of five regions, with the Americas and Europe hitting their lowest scores.Only a small percentage of countries achieved top ratings, and the Middle East and North Africa remain the worst regions for working people.
- Which countries are identified as the worst for worker rights in the 2025 report? The ten worst countries include Egypt, bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Türkiye, and Tunisia.
- What actions does the Ituc recommend to improve global worker rights? The Ituc advocates for strong, independent unions and democratic governance to reclaim power, rebuild economies that serve people, and hold international institutions accountable for protecting worker rights.
- How does conflict affect worker rights, according to the Ituc report? in countries experiencing conflict and the collapse of the rule of law, worker rights are severely compromised, leading to the lowest possible ratings in regions like afghanistan, Syria and South Sudan.
- What violations of worker rights are most prevalent globally? The most common violations include restrictions on the right to strike, infringements on collective bargaining rights, and limited access to justice for workers.
What do you think about the declining state of worker rights? How can individuals and organizations work together to reverse this trend?
share yoru thoughts and comments below.
