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The 12th report of the ITUC Global Rights Index reveals the most threatening nations to workers by 2025. Freedom to strike, form unions, and the freedom of speech are being attacked like never before. The highest rating was only obtained by seven countries, and Europe and the Americas had their poorest results since 2014. Violent crackdowns and illegal arrests, the Index demonstrates a large scale of attacks on democratic freedoms. The country-by-country overview of the 10 worst violators and instances of the undermining of the rights of workers is presented below.
1. Bangladesh
Bangladesh is still among the most unsafe nations to work in, as the garment workers are severely repressed. The leaders of unions face the risk of being dismissed, harassed, and attacked because they want higher wages.
2. Belarus
Belarus still makes trade union activity a crime. The independent union leaders have been imprisoned on false accusations, and workplaces are still subjected to state scrutiny.
3. Ecuador
In Ecuador, hostility towards unions has been on the increase. Employees who complain about poor working conditions are sacked, and freedom of association is curtailed in the most important sectors.
4. Egypt
The freedom of organising and striking is highly limited in Egypt. The leaders of the union are arrested by the security forces, and the independent trade unions can hardly survive under the repressive laws.
5. Eswatini
In Eswatini, anti-peaceful demonstrations are violently suppressed. The meetings of the unions are frequently proclaimed illegal, and activists are intimidated and harassed in the exercise of their fundamental liberties.
6. Myanmar
Myanmar has been made very unfriendly to employees since the 2021 coup. There are arrests of unionists, militarisation of factories, and violent crackdowns on strikes.
7. Nigeria
Nigeria is still repressing the rights of the workers; there is often police brutality against the strikers. Workers in the oil and public sectors are intimidated, and the leaders of the unions are at risk of being arrested.
8. Philippines
The Philippines is still at high risk for labour activists. There are still charges against those who assisted displaced indigenous people, and unionists are still being harassed and criminalised.
9. Tunisia
In Tunisia, oppression against labourers has been intensified by arresting union leaders and suppressing the right to protest. Unilateral decisions made by the employer destroy collective bargaining.
10. Türkiye
Turkiye outlaws strikes and collective action. Peaceful protests are met by arresting workers, and the ban on the gathering of people continues to be popular.
Other International Violations
- Cameroon: Police killed a seasonal worker in a pay protest.
- Iraq: Oil workers wounded in strikes.
- Kenya: Traffic employees refused unionization.
- Pakistan: 62 unions were proclaimed illegal, and millions were affected.
- France: 40 percent of the agreements are set without unions.
- Sweden: Tesla circumvented collective bargaining by using strike-breakers.
- Cambodia & Hong Kong: The leaders of the union were jailed because they were activists.
Countries under Changing Rating.
- Worsened: Costa Rica, Panama, Mauritania, Italy, Nigeria, Argentina.
- Better: Australia, Mexico, Oman.
Conclusion
The Global Rights Index 2025 is a frightening indicator of the fact that democracy and the freedom of workers are undermined. Violence, arrests, and union-busting strategies continue to be prevalent in most nations and require a global backlash.
