ITUC GLOBAL 2016 RIGHTS INDEX THE WORLD’S WORST COUNTRIES FOR WORKERS D/2015/11.962/9 ITUC International Trade Union Confederation 5 Bd Roi Albert II, Bte 1 – B-1210 Brussels, Belgium Tel.: + 32 2 224 02 11 – Fax: +32 2 224 02 97 E-mail: [email protected] – www.ituc-csi.org PUBLISHER RESPONSIBLE IN LAW: Sharan Burrow, General secretary INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION THE WORLD'S WORST COUNTRIES FOR WORKERS The 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index | 2 The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is a confederation of national trade union centres, each of which links trade unions of that particular country. It was established on 1 November 2006, bringing together the organisations which were formerly affiliated to the ICFTU and WCL (both now dissolved) as well as a number of national trade union centres which had no international affiliation at the time. The new Confederation has 333 affiliated organisation in 162 countries and territories on all five continents, with a membership of 180 million, 40 per cent of whom are women. It is also a partner in “Global Unions” together with the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD and the Global Union Federations (GUFs) which link together national unions from a particular trade or industry at international level. The ITUC has specialised offices in a number of countries around the world, and has General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index | 4 Foreword .............................................7 Kenya .................................................62 Korea, Republic of ...............................63 Part I ..................................................11 Lebanon .............................................64 The 2016 Results ...............................12 Madagascar .......................................65 The ITUC Global Rights Index ...............17 Malaysia .............................................66 Description of the Ratings ...................19 Mali ...................................................67 Worst Region in the World ...................21 Mauritania ..........................................67 The world’s 10 worst countries Mexico ..............................................68 for workers .........................................23 Montenegro ........................................69 Most violated rights ............................29 Morocco .............................................69 Noteworthy developments....................33 Nepal .................................................70 New Zealand ......................................70 List of indicators ................................39 Pakistan .............................................71 Paraguay ............................................72 Part II .................................................47 Peru ...................................................72 Contents Algeria ...............................................48 Philippines ..........................................73 Argentina ...........................................49 Russia ................................................74 Bangladesh ........................................50 Saudi Arabia .......................................75 Belarus...............................................51 Serbia ................................................75 Benin .................................................52 Spain .................................................76 Cameroon ..........................................52 Swaziland ...........................................77 Chile ..................................................53 Switzerland .........................................77 China .................................................53 Thailand .............................................78 Colombia ............................................54 Tunisia ...............................................79 Egypt .................................................55 Turkey ................................................80 Fiji .....................................................56 Ukraine ..............................................81 France................................................56 United Kingdom ..................................82 Georgia ..............................................57 Zambia ...............................................82 Guatemala ..........................................58 Zimbabwe ..........................................83 Haiti ...................................................58 Honduras............................................59 India...................................................59 Indonesia............................................60 Iran ....................................................61 5 | | 6 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 Foreword 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 propos- als 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. 7 | Another trend is the dramatic increase in the interference and restriction of free speech and peaceful assembly. Threats of terrorist activity are being used by governments in order to push for security agendas that undermine the right to freedom of assembly and expression which not only form the pillars of democratic societies but also enable workers and citizens to have a say in decision-making. In 50 countries, that is 9 countries more than last year, demonstrations were halted and workers suffered retaliation for expressing their views. Certain categories of workers are excluded from the right to freedom associa- tion in 58 per cent of all countries and workers do not have the right to strike in 68 per cent of countries. Workers are denied the right to bargain collectively for better working conditions in 57 per cent of countries. The findings are derived from the ITUC Global Rights Index. Throughout 2015 and 2016, the ITUC has investigated and documented repression and abuses faced by workers who stood up for democratic rights and freedoms, equality and social justice. Based on the evidence collected, we have produced the third Global Rights Index rating 141 countries on the degree of respect demonstrated for workers’ rights. The Global Rights Index covers internationally recognised core labour standards, specifically civil rights, the right to bargain collectively, the right to strike, the right to associate freely and access to due process rights. These rights are protected in international human rights instruments, includ- ing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and have been recognised as constituting the prerequisites for the realisation of decent work. The ability of workers to organise allows them to use their collective power to achieve improved labour rights, health and safety at the workplace, the right not to be discriminated against and freedom from forced labour and child labour. The Global Rights Index therefore focuses on collective labour rights "as a benchmark" for the realisation of decent work. | 8 Part I of this publication provides a more detailed analysis of the 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index as well as a short overview of the methodology. Part II of the publication presents illustrative examples from the evidence we collected throughout the year. Further information can be found on the website of the ITUC Survey (survey.ituc-csi.org). Sharan Burrow, General Secretary 9 | | 10 The 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index PART I The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 141 countries on a scale from 1-5 based on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. As the global voice of working people, the ITUC has been documenting