Workers’ rights are under growing pressure in many countries worldwide, with violations of civil liberties, free speech, assembly and union protections increasing in 2025, according to a report released by the International Trade Union Confederation.
The 2026 Global Rights Index, the 13th edition of the ITUC’s annual assessment, investigates violations of workers’ rights and covers 151 countries. The organisation says the report shows “the systematic weakening of democracy through attacks on workers, unions and collective bargaining.”
This year the United States was placed on a new „watchlist“ alongside Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Liberia, the Philippines, Moldova and Zimbabwe. The watchlist covers countries where the confederation says there has been a measurable increase in workers‘ rights violations. In the US case, the report cites restrictions on collective bargaining rights for federal workers, the paralysis of the National Labor Relations Board and immigration enforcement practices affecting migrant workers and union representatives.
Seven countries placed on a new watchlist
The report’s global indicators point to worsening restrictions on basic freedoms. Attacks on free speech and assembly were reported in 50 percent of countries, a record high for the index and up from 45 percent in 2025. Authorities arrested or detained workers in 75 countries, also a record high. Workers suffered violence in 32 percent of countries, compared with 26 percent last year. Trade unionists and workers were killed in Angola, Colombia, Indonesia and Mexico.
Several core labour rights remained at or near previous record levels of violations. The right to strike was violated in 87 percent of countries, unchanged from 2025 and 2024. The right to collective bargaining was restricted in 80 percent of countries, while workers had no or reduced access to justice in 72 percent. The legal registration of unions was impeded in 75 percent of countries, the highest level since the index began.
China and India, the world’s two most populous countries, were both ranked in category 5, which the index describes as “no guarantee of rights.”
The ten worst countries for workers in 2026 according to the report were Argentina, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, Panama, Tunisia and Türkiye. Argentina and Panama entered the list after their ratings fell from 4 to 5, meaning that workers have no guarantee of rights.
Overall, four country rankings worsened and three improved
Overall, four country rankings worsened compared to the previous year: Albania, Argentina, France and Panama. Three improved: Botswana, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. The Middle East and North Africa remained the worst region overall, with a rating of 4.68. Asia-Pacific remained the second worst region with 4.08, unchanged from 2025. Africa improved slightly to 3.91, although the report says conditions remain extremely challenging for most workers and unions on the continent.
Europe remained the best-rated region, but it still recorded its worst average rating since the index was launched in 2014, at 2.80. The Americas also reached their worst rating, at 3.72, and remained the deadliest region for workers and their representatives. The Americas deteriorated for a third consecutive year, while Europe’s average rating fell for a fourth consecutive year.
The ITUC frames its findings as part of what it calls a “billionaire coup against democracy,” arguing that concentrated wealth and political power are helping drive attacks on workers’ rights. The report notes that „tactics vary“, but „those behind them share a common purpose: to stop democracy from delivering for workers“, including through „undermining multilateral organisations.“
The report does not include a systematic investigation of this claim. Its evidence focuses mainly on documenting specific violations by governments and employers, including restrictions on strikes, collective bargaining, union registration, civil liberties and access to justice.
A recent advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice represents a positive development for labour rights worldwide. The court confirmed last month that the right to strike is protected under ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association, an agreement ratified by 158 countries. While the court’s advisory opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal weight.
