Nigeria has been listed among the top 10 countries globally that violate workers’ rights, according to the 2025 Global Rights Index by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The report highlights a concerning trend of deteriorating workers’ rights worldwide, with Nigeria joining countries like Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, the Philippines, Tunisia, and Türkiye in this dubious ranking.
The ITUC’s Global Rights Index 2025 reveals that workers’ rights are collapsing across every continent, with Europe and the Americas recording their worst scores since the index began in 2014. Only seven countries have achieved the top rating of one for their respect for workers’ rights, while 51 countries, including Nigeria, have been rated five or 5+, indicating severe violations.
Key Findings of the Report:
– Global Deterioration: Three out of five global regions saw conditions worsen, with the Americas scoring 3.68 and Europe scoring 2.78, both worst scores on record.
– Violations of Rights: 87% of countries violated the right to strike, 80% violated the right to collective bargaining, and 72% restricted workers’ access to justice.
– Regional Performance: The Middle East and North Africa emerged as the worst regions for working people, with an average rating of 6.8.
The ITUC General Secretary, Luc Triangle, expressed deep concern over the findings, stating that the collapse of workers’ rights is a result of decades of deregulation, neoliberalism, and neglect by governments. He warned that if this trend continues, no country will hold a rating of one within the next ten years, paving the way for extremism, authoritarianism, and threats to democracy.
Countries with Improved and Worsening Ratings:
– Improved Ratings: Australia, Mexico, and Oman have seen improvements in workers’ rights.
– Worsening Ratings: Countries like Argentina, Costa Rica, Georgia, Italy, Mauritania, Niger, and Panama have witnessed increased workers’ rights violations.
The ITUC is committed to exposing the coordinated attack by the ultra-rich and their political allies to rig economies against working people. Through strong, independent unions and democracy that delivers for all, the ITUC aims to reclaim power, rebuild economies that serve people, and demand international institutions accountable to those they protect.
