2023’s top 10 worst countries for workers and trade unionists

On 30 June, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) released its 2023 Global Rights Index, which ranked 149 countries on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 being the best and 5 being the worst, in terms of their respect for workers’ rights. The 10 worst countries for working people in 2023 are: Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Guatemala, Myanmar, Tunisia, the Philippines and Turkey.

The 2023 Index, which is the only database of its kind and which includes rights abuses and national ratings that can be viewed by country and region, shows that key measures of violations of workers’ rights have reached record highs. ITUC Acting General Secretary Luc Triangle said the 2023 ITUC Global Rights Index provides shocking evidence that the foundations of democracy are under attack. “There is a clear link between workers’ rights being upheld and the strength of any democracy. The erosion of one amounts to the degradation of the other,” he said. 

BWI called on governments around the world, notably those in this year's top ten worst countries for workers, to respect workers' rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively, as well as the freedom of association. It reminded everyone that the fight for trade union rights and democracy is one and the same. Trade unions are an important foundation of democracy and a bulwark of freedom, and they can only be strong and free in a democratic society.  

Read the report.