The 2025 Global Rights Index, released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), reveals a significant deterioration in workers’ rights worldwide, attributing the decline to political shifts and the rise of far-right leadership in several countries, including the United States.
According to the report, only seven out of 151 countries now offer adequate protections for workers, a sharp decrease from 18 countries a decade ago. The ITUC highlights that far-right leaders, such as Donald Trump in the U.S. and Javier Milei in Argentina, are undermining democracy and labor protections, often with the backing of powerful billionaire supporters. In the U.S., the Trump administration is cited for dismantling labor rights, including stripping union protections for tens of thousands of federal employees, weakening labor boards, slashing budgets for mediation services, and rolling back collective bargaining rights.
The report also notes that workers’ rights are being violated in most countries, with access to justice restricted in 72%, and the right to strike and collectively bargain violated in 87% and 80% of countries, respectively. The worst countries for workers include Bangladesh, Belarus, and Egypt. Meanwhile, countries like Australia and Mexico showed some improvement.
ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle emphasized the broader crisis in democracy, exacerbated by economic inequality and the growing influence of billionaires. He stated, “In more and more countries, we have elected leaders that once they are elected democratically, they are taking action against democratic values. The first target of those leaders in many countries is they attack trade human rights and workers’ rights, because we are the biggest defenders of “.
The ITUC is advocating for political reforms that prioritize fair labor conditions, social protection, and equitable economic policies. The organization warns that without urgent action, the erosion of workers’ rights will continue to undermine democratic institutions globally.
