Business

ITUC Report Lists Out World’s Worst Countries For Workers

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has come out with its latest report – The World’s Worst Countries For Workers. Not surprisingly, some of the worst countries to work are also some of the leading suppliers of textile and clothing to the world. Bangladesh Surprisingly, in Bangladesh, workers’ rights continue to be severely curtailed, despite ongoing work by top retailers and brands, to improve the conditions of workers, workplaces, and thus their supply chains. Workers here are still faced with regressive laws, obstacles to union formation, and police violence. Egypt Repressive laws, prosecution of strikers, and union-busting and dismissals are also listed as the main reasons Egypt is in the top ten list. The report claims workers in Egypt remained deprived of their basic rights and freedoms at work, while many independent trade unions were still seeking re-registration after their arbitrary dissolution in 2018. New laws were introduced in 2021 to further curtail freedom of speech and assembly, the report states. Myanmar Brutal repression of strikes and protests, arbitrary arrests, and killings were all listed as significant reasons why Myanmar is one of the worst places to work in the world. Since its military coup on 1 February 2021 and the repression of subsequent pro-democracy protests, widespread and systematic human rights abuses have continued in the country. The Philippines Violence and murders, arrests during strikes and state repression are very much prevalent in The Philippines making it one of the worst places to work, according to the Global Rights Index. Turkey In Turkey too, the situation is not very different according to the report. Repression of strikes, arrests of trade unionists, and systematic union-busting in Turkey, adding in 2022, workers’ freedoms and rights continued to be denied, including with police crackdowns on protests. Ratings The Index selects the world’s worst countries by rating them on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect to workers’ rights, with violations recorded each year from April to March. 5+ rating Myanmar received the worst rating of 5+, which the Index defines as: “No guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law.” 5 rating The rating of 5, which means there is no guarantee of rights, was awarded to China, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, and Cambodia. 4 rating The systematic violations of rights rating (4) was also given to countries including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Ethiopia. The US was also given a 4 rating. 3 rating El Salvador and Mexico were awarded a rating of 3, which means regular violations of rights takes place. 2 rating Some of the leading apparel sourcing hotspots in Europe were listed in the lower rankings of 2 (repeated violations of rights), including Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain. 1 rating Italy, Sweden, Germany and Finland were among the countries ranked 1 (sporadic violations of rights).