The Decline of Workers’ Rights: What Businesses Need to Know from the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index

The latest 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index reveals a worrying global trend of worsening conditions for workers and trade unions. From a business perspective, the findings serve as a crucial warning, emphasising the increasing risks for workers and companies operating in an environment of rising repression of human rights. 

Average country ratings have deteriorated in three out of five global regions, with Europe and the Americas recording their worst scores since the Index began in 2014. Only seven of the 151 countries surveyed received the top-tier rating, signifying sporadic rights violations. This ongoing assault on fundamental labour rights by governments and corporations presents significant challenges for responsible business conduct. 

Key Trends and Violations from the Report: 

The report highlights several critical trends and violations that demand attention from businesses:  

Escalating Violations of Fundamental Rights: The data shows a sharp escalation in violations of fundamental rights, including access to justice, the right to free speech and assembly, and the right to collective bargaining. This creates an unstable operating environment and raises questions about a company’s ability to uphold human rights within its operations and supply chains. 

‘A Coup on Democracy’: The Index describes a sustained assault by state authorities and corporations on democracy, as well as the rights and welfare of workers. The report highlights the dangers of economic power concentration, where less than 1% of the global population controls nearly half of the world’s wealth. This empowers a small group of billionaires to influence global decision-making, including on labour rights and protections, directly impacting the lives of the workers who sustain the global economy. The connection between influence and rights violations raises significant concerns for the protection of human rights. 

Reduced Access to Justice: In 2025, workers had no or reduced access to justice in 72% of countries, marking the highest level recorded in the Index. This means that when workers’ rights are violated, their avenues for redress are severely restricted. This leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, without the possibility of protection and remediation. 

Restrictions on the Right to Strike and Collective Bargaining: The right to strike was violated in 87% of countries. Examples include police repression of protests in Cameroon and Iraq, and retaliatory dismissals of striking workers in Armenia and Iran. The right to collective bargaining was restricted in 80% of countries. Companies like Tesla in Sweden have been known to bypass negotiations entirely, violating Swedish law by flying in replacement staff to substitute for striking workers, rather than engaging in collective bargaining. 

Impediments to Union Registration and Freedom of Association: The right to legal registration of unions was obstructed in 74% of countries, the highest level since the index began. Examples include 600 traffic service workers in Kenya, who were denied the right to form a union due to misclassification, and 62 unions declared unlawful in Pakistan.  

The Index highlights pervasive “union-busting” campaigns, where employers interfere with union activities. For instance, Amcor unfairly dismissed a union secretary in Malaysia as part of its anti-union efforts, and Amazon responded to the creation of its first unionised workforce in Canada by closing its Quebec warehouses, resulting in 2,000 job losses. Such practices undermine fundamental labour rights and can have significant economic consequences for workers and communities. 

Abuse of “Foreign Influence” Laws: A growing number of state authorities are adopting legislation that criminalises civil society organisations, including potentially trade unions, as “foreign agents”. This tactic expands state surveillance, hinders unions from receiving international support, and promotes a damaging narrative that discredits the labour movement. For businesses, this means that even legitimate engagement with local civil society or international labour organisations might face backlash in some countries. 

Violence and Arbitrary Detention: While slightly improved, workers still suffered violence in 26% of countries, and trade unionists were killed in five countries (Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and South Africa). Furthermore, authorities in 71 countries (47%) arrested and/or imprisoned workers for exercising their rights. This level of repression poses severe risks to human life and dignity within business operations and supply chains. 

How Should Businesses Respond?  

The findings of the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index carry profound implications for businesses committed to human rights. These implications include the heightened risk of operating in countries with severe and systematic violations or engaging in practices that undermine workers’ rights. This can lead to significant reputational damage, consumer boycotts, and investor divestment. To mitigate this risk, companies must consider implementing the following actions to protect workers in their operations and supply chains:  

Robust Human Rights Due Diligence: Implement and strengthen due diligence processes to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for human rights impacts in operations and supply chains. This includes assessing risks related to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and access to remedy. 

Ensure respect for International Labour Standards: Align business policies and practices with internationally recognised labour rights, particularly those that cover freedom of association and collective bargaining.  

Engage in Genuine Social Dialogue: Foster environments where workers can freely form and join independent trade unions and engage in meaningful collective bargaining with their representatives. 

Advocate for Workers’ Rights: Where possible, businesses should use their influence to encourage governments to uphold workers’ rights and civil liberties, rather than contributing to their erosion. The global trade union movement is highlighted as the most significant democratic social force in the world, existing to defend democratic freedoms and improve workers’ lives. Businesses that understand and respect this reality will be better positioned to navigate the complex global landscape, uphold their human rights responsibilities, and contribute to a more stable and equitable future for all. 

Conclusion  

The recent ITUC Global Human Rights Index demonstrates that businesses must establish strong policies and procedures to safeguard workers’ rights in their operations and supply chains. Companies need to take proactive measures to ensure thorough due diligence, uphold international labour standards, and engage meaningfully with workers and trade unions. In a world where human rights have notably declined, businesses that advocate for workers’ rights will not only protect their reputation and resilience but also contribute to creating a fairer, more sustainable, and ethical world.  

Next Steps   

At Ardea International, we assist businesses in implementing effective human rights due diligence by offering actionable steps suitable for organisations at all levels. For further information, consider attending our autumn workshop, Human Rights Due Diligence: What Is It and How to Develop an Effective Framework or contact us via email at hello@ardeainternational.com .