Workers’ rights are under growing pressure in every region, with Europe and the Americas now facing their worst results since records began. This clear warning comes from the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index, released by the International Trade Union Confederation ahead of the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Just seven countries now hold the highest rating for workers’ rights, while 39 sit at the lowest.
The study paints a troubling picture: only 7 out of 151 countries surveyed hold a top grade, compared to 18 a decade ago. Europe’s score slid from 1.84 in 2014 to 2.78, the sharpest fall of any region. The Americas also fell to their lowest score ever, at 3.68. The Middle East and North Africa remain the most dangerous region for working people, averaging a 4.68 rating. Deaths of trade union members were reported in Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and South Africa.
Violations are widespread. In 87% of countries, the right to strike was violated. More than 70% restricted access to justice for workers. Just three countries improved their rating this year, while seven declined. The ten worst countries for workers are Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Conflict has pushed 12 countries to the very bottom of the scale.
Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the ITUC, put it plainly: “The 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index exposes the outcomes of the betrayal of the system built after World War Two, founded on democracy, trade union rights and justice.”
The Index, using 97 indicators from International Labour Organization agreements, is a global database that records workers’ rights violations and trends year after year.
