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Workers’ rights across the globe are facing a dramatic decline, with increasing restrictions on collective bargaining and growing hostility towards trade union leaders, according to a new report released Monday by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The organisation’s annual Global Rights Index – which evaluates labour rights in 151 countries using 97 indicators based on UN and international treaty standards – paints a bleak picture of the current state of workers’ freedoms. The report describes a “profound deterioration”, particularly in Europe and the Americas, which recorded their worst performances since the index began in 2014.
Among the key findings, the ITUC said 87 percent of countries had violated the right to strike, and 80 percent had undermined collective bargaining rights. In France, nearly 40 percent of collective agreements were imposed unilaterally by employers, excluding union involvement. The report also noted an alarming level of persecution against union figures in the country, citing that over 1,000 members and leaders of the Confédération générale du travail (CGT) are facing criminal charges or disciplinary actions for protesting against pension reforms.
Luc Triangle, the ITUC’s General Secretary, warned that the erosion of workers’ rights is accelerating dangerously. “If this pace of decline continues, there will be no country left with the highest rating in just ten years,” he said.
Countries were scored from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) based on their respect for rights like striking, protesting, and union participation. Only seven countries – including Germany, Sweden, and Norway – retained the top score this year, compared to 18 nations a decade ago. Meanwhile, Italy and Argentina saw their rankings fall in 2025.
The report also highlighted deadly violence against workers, revealing that trade unionists or workers were killed in five countries this year: South Africa, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru. In a notable development, Nigeria was listed among the 10 worst countries for workers’ rights for the first time.
Despite the overall decline, the report pointed to some positive developments. Australia implemented reforms that bolstered union rights, while labour law changes in Mexico enhanced workers’ access to justice.
