ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX

Foreword
The 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index shows workers’ rights were weakened in
almost all regions of the world, including through severe crackdowns on the
right to free speech and assembly.
The Middle East and North Africa was again the worst region for workers.
The complete lack of freedom of association and the kafala system, which
subjects millions of migrant workers to the risk of forced labour, continued to be
pervasive throughout the Gulf states. While the continued denial of or threats to
democracy and rights in the Middle East has escalated violence, oppression and
denial of freedom of association.
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.
Even in countries with strong democratic traditions, governments tabled proposals
attempting to establish legal barriers curtailing workers’ voices in negotiating
collective agreements and with regard to government policies. Unions in the
United Kingdom, France and Finland are fighting back against regressive legal
legislative changes.
The ten worst countries for working people this year are Belarus, Cambodia,
China, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Iran, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE. Additionally,
other countries have seen their ranking fall this year, including Indonesia (from
4 to 5), Paraguay (from 3 to 4) and Belgium (from 1 to 2).
While there was one less country in which workers were killed for their trade
union activity, the number of countries where workers were exposed to violence
increased from 36 in 2015 to 52 countries in 2016.
The countries where workers have faced the worst forms of violence, including
murders, killings, threats, kidnappings and physical violence include Colombia,
Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia and the Ukraine. Working collectively for better
wages, rights and conditions makes workers targets of both state security
forces and thugs hired by companies.
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