Latest news with #InternationalTradeUnionConfederation
3 days ago
- Business
Oman improves workers' rights ranking in 2025 ITUC index
Muscat – Oman has improved its standing in the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index, moving from a rating of 4 to 3 – an improvement described as significant by labour observers. Released by International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) during the International Labour Conference in Geneva being held from June 2 to 13, the index assesses workers' rights across 151 countries. The rise in Oman's rating resulted from a series of recent labour reforms, particularly establishment of a tripartite dialogue mechanism involving representatives from the government, employers and workers. The mechanism is led by General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW) and aims to enhance social dialogue and ensure more inclusive policymaking. 'These reforms have paved the way for constructive engagement on employment issues and more efficient mechanisms for resolving labour disputes,' the ITUC report stated. The tripartite committee now plays a key role in drafting, reviewing and amending labour legislation. The reforms have also improved workers' access to justice and promoted fairer dispute resolution processes. The Global Rights Index measures countries against 97 indicators based on International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, covering the right to strike, freedom of association, collective bargaining, protection from violence and freedom of expression for trade unionists. Ratings range from 1 (best) to 5 (worst). Oman's progress contrasts with broader regional trends. The Middle East and North Africa remains the lowest-ranked region globally, with an average score of 4.68 in 2025, slightly better than its lowest-ever score of 4.74 in 2024. The report stated, 'This indicates that most workers are subject to systematic violations or have no guarantee of basic labour rights.' It noted that workers in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue to face bans or restrictions on freedom of association and the right to organise. These limitations particularly affect migrant workers, who make up a large portion of the workforce in those countries. 'Oman offered a glimmer of progress, improving its rating from 4 to 3 in 2025, due to a series of progressive labour reforms aimed at strengthening social dialogue and dispute resolution,' the report added. Oman is one of only three countries that improved their ratings this year, alongside Australia and Moldova. In contrast, seven countries – Argentina, Costa Rica, Georgia, Italy, Mauritania, Niger and Panama – saw their ratings worsen. The ten worst countries for workers in 2025 were listed as Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia and Türkiye. ITUC said this year's report revealed a worsening crisis for workers and unions globally, with average ratings deteriorating in three out of five world regions. Europe and the Americas recorded their worst scores since the index was launched in 2014. Only seven countries received the top-tier rating in 2025.
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman among leading Arab countries in ITUC Global Rights Index
BUSINESS REPORTER MUSCAT, JUNE 2 Oman has emerged as one of the leading Arab countries in the ITUC Global Rights Index, published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The country's rating improved from Level 4 to Level 3 — a notable step forward in terms of trade union rights and freedoms. This progress reflects the sustained efforts of the General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW) at both national and international levels. According to the Index, the improved rating is the result of a series of reforms to labour legislation and regulatory frameworks. These reforms include enhanced access to justice for workers and the promotion of more effective tripartite dialogue between the government, employers, and workers' representatives. This has been achieved through the establishment of a joint dialogue committee comprising representatives of all three parties, tasked with drafting, reviewing, and amending labour laws and policies. The reforms introduced in recent years have contributed to fostering constructive dialogue on labour and employment issues and to strengthening mechanisms for the resolution of labour disputes. The ITUC Global Rights Index is an annual global assessment of trade union rights and human rights in the world of work. It is published by the ITUC as part of the International Labour Conference (ILC), held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. The Index ranks countries on a scale from 1 (best) to 5+ (worst), based on 97 indicators derived from International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. These include restrictions on collective bargaining, the right to strike, freedom of association, trade union membership, violence against trade unionists, and limitations on freedom of expression.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump takes ‘wrecking ball' to workers' rights amid global ‘freefall', new report says
Workers' rights across every continent in the world are in a 'freefall', according to the 2025 Global Rights Index released by the International Trade Union Confederation, the largest trade union federation in the world. The index noted workers' rights and democracy around the world are often under attack by 'far-right politicians and their unelected billionaire backers. Whether it's Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the US or Javier Milei and Eduardo Eurnekian in Argentina, we see the same playbook of unfairness and authoritarianism in action around the world.' In the US, the index cited 'the Donald Trump administration has taken a wrecking ball to the collective labour rights of workers and brought anti-union billionaires into the heart of policymaking'. Related: Trump's safety research cuts heighten workplace risks, federal workers warn These actions, according to the index, include stripping union protections from 47,000 workers at the Transportation Security Administration, attempting to revoke civil service protections for large swaths of federal employees and firing a member of the National Labor Relations Board, leaving it without a quorum. Luc Triangle, secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation, said the report covers events up until March 2025, but these trends have continued to worsen in the US since then. The Trump administration has also drastically cut staff at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, fired a board member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and issued an executive order revoking collective bargaining rights for the majority of federal employees. 'In more and more countries, we have elected leaders that once they are elected democratically, they are taking action against democratic values,' said Triangle. '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 democratic values and in that sense also their biggest opponents as largest social movement in the world.' Three out of five global regions saw conditions for workers' rights worsen, including the Americas and Europe hitting their worst scores on the index since it was established in 2014. Only seven out of 151 nations surveyed by the index had a top-tier rating on workers' rights, down from 18 in 2015. Workers' access to justice was restricted in 72% of nations surveyed, the worst on record, 87% of countries violated the right to strike and 80% violated the right to collective bargaining. The worst countries for workers, according to the report, are Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia and Turkey. Only three countries, Australia, Mexico and Oman, saw their ratings improve from 2024. Triangle warned that the billionaire backers of these politicians have come out of the shadows and only expanded their wealth and control over important parts of society, in a 'coup' by billionaires of democratic institutions globally that are driving these deteriorating conditions for workers' rights. 'In the last four or five years with Covid and increased inflation, people lost purchasing power and that's the breeding ground for extremist parties to get voters to vote for extremist parties, which actually don't offer any solution for the working people,' said Triangle. The federation of unions is pushing a campaign for democracy that delivers in opposition to the framework model used by Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the US, and other billionaires and far-right political leaders around the world. 'The five richest people in the world more than doubled their wealth over the last five years, while 60% of the population of the world got poorer. We are investing nearly US$3tn as a world into arms and into weapons and there is unfair taxation. So if we want to find the money for delivering to working people to what they really need – good wages, more jobs, rights, social protections – it's a matter of political choice.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Workers' rights in ‘free fall' globally: Report
In total, 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike and 80 per cent violated the right to collective bargaining, the ITUC said. PHOTO: REUTERS PARIS - Workers' rights around the world are 'in free fall', with widespread attempts to hamstring collective bargaining and attacks on trade union representatives, the world's largest trade union organisation said on June 2. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) found a 'profound deterioration' in workers' rights in its annual rights index published on June 2, based on 97 indicators laid out by the United Nations and international treaties. Workers' rights, which the report measured in 151 countries, particularly declined in Europe and the Americas – with the worst results for the two regions since the index was launched in 2014. In total, 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike and 80 per cent violated the right to collective bargaining, the ITUC said. 'The right to collective bargaining was restricted in 80 per cent of countries (121),' the ITUC said. In France, for example, 'nearly four in every 10 collective agreements were imposed unilaterally by employers, without union representation'. The report also said outlined 'persecution' against union leaders. 'In France, more than 1,000 union leaders and members of the Confederation generale du travail (CGT) were facing criminal charges and disciplinary measures for their roles in mass protests against pension reforms,' it said. The ITUC gives each country a maximum score of one and a minimum score of five for their respect for workers' rights, such as the right to strike, demonstrate and participate in negotiations. Only seven countries – including Germany, Sweden and Norway – were awarded the maximum score, compared to 18 a decade ago. Italy and Argentina saw their scores drop in 2025. 'If this pace of decline continues, in ten years there will be no country left in the world with the highest rating for its respect for workers' rights,' ITUC head Luc Triangle said in a statement. In 2025, Europe experienced the sharpest decline of any region in the world over the past 10 years. The ITUC also said trade unionists or workers were killed in five countries in 2025: South Africa, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru. And Nigeria joined the list of the 10 worst countries for workers' rights for the first time. Only a handful of countries saw an improvement in workers' rights. Reforms strengthened trade union rights in Australia, while in Mexico, labour law changes improved access to justice for workers. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump takes ‘wrecking ball' to workers' rights amid global ‘freefall', new report says
Workers' rights across every continent in the world are in a 'freefall', according to the 2025 Global Rights Index released by the International Trade Union Confederation, the largest trade union federation in the world. The index noted workers' rights and democracy around the world are often under attack by 'far-right politicians and their unelected billionaire backers. Whether it's Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the US or Javier Milei and Eduardo Eurnekian in Argentina, we see the same playbook of unfairness and authoritarianism in action around the world.' In the US, the index cited 'the Donald Trump administration has taken a wrecking ball to the collective labour rights of workers and brought anti-union billionaires into the heart of policymaking'. These actions, according to the index, include stripping union protections from 47,000 workers at the Transportation Security Administration, attempting to revoke civil service protections for large swaths of federal employees and firing a member of the National Labor Relations Board, leaving it without a quorum. Luc Triangle, secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation, said the report covers events up until March 2025, but these trends have continued to worsen in the US since then. The Trump administration has also drastically cut staff at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, fired a board member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and issued an executive order revoking collective bargaining rights for the majority of federal employees. 'In more and more countries, we have elected leaders that once they are elected democratically, they are taking action against democratic values,' said Triangle. '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 democratic values and in that sense also their biggest opponents as largest social movement in the world.' Three out of five global regions saw conditions for workers' rights worsen, including the Americas and Europe hitting their worst scores on the index since it was established in 2014. Only seven out of 151 nations surveyed by the index had a top-tier rating on workers' rights, down from 18 in 2015. Workers' access to justice was restricted in 72% of nations surveyed, the worst on record, 87% of countries violated the right to strike and 80% violated the right to collective bargaining. The worst countries for workers, according to the report, are Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia and Turkey. Only three countries, Australia, Mexico and Oman, saw their ratings improve from 2024. Triangle warned that the billionaire backers of these politicians have come out of the shadows and only expanded their wealth and control over important parts of society, in a 'coup' by billionaires of democratic institutions globally that are driving these deteriorating conditions for workers' rights. 'In the last four or five years with Covid and increased inflation, people lost purchasing power and that's the breeding ground for extremist parties to get voters to vote for extremist parties, which actually don't offer any solution for the working people,' said Triangle. The federation of unions is pushing a campaign for democracy that delivers in opposition to the framework model used by Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the US, and other billionaires and far-right political leaders around the world. 'The five richest people in the world more than doubled their wealth over the last five years, while 60% of the population of the world got poorer. We are investing nearly US$3tn as a world into arms and into weapons and there is unfair taxation. So if we want to find the money for delivering to working people to what they really need – good wages, more jobs, rights, social protections – it's a matter of political choice.'
