ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX

PART I //
WORST REGION
IN THE WORLD
The Middle East and North Africa remains the world’s worst region when it
comes to fundamental rights at work. The vast majority of workers, namely
migrant workers, in the Gulf countries are excluded from basic protections
under the labour laws, including the right to freedom of association and
to bargain collectively. This, in tandem with repressive sponsorship laws,
systematically exposes these workers to forced labour. In other countries, such
as Egypt, workers face serious repercussions for raising their voices for decent
work and against autocratic rule. In Algeria, the government has still refused to
register independent trade unions or ensure the reinstatement of sacked union
activists.
Countries in Europe and Central Asia continue to offer the best protection of
trade union rights to workers but at the same time experience the starkest
deterioration of those rights - a continuation of a trend. The average rating
increased from 2.32 to 2.47 from 2015 to 2016. In 2014, the average rating
was 1.84 reflecting a clear erosion of laws and institutions which previously
guaranteed rights and democratic workplaces.
21 |