Nigeria has been ranked among the ten worst countries for workers’ rights in the newly released 2025 International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index.
The country joins Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Philippines, Tunisia, and Türkiye in the lowest category of rights violators.
The ITUC report, released last month to mark the opening of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, paints a grim picture of the global state of workers’ rights. It warns that workers’ rights are collapsing across continents, with conditions worsening significantly in Europe and the Americas, both recording their worst scores since the Index was launched in 2014.
According to the report, only seven countries, fewer than five per cent of the 151 surveyed — retained a top-tier rating for upholding workers’ rights, a dramatic drop from 18 countries a decade ago. If the trend continues, the report cautions, no country will hold a rating of one by 2035.
Among the most alarming findings:
72% of countries now restrict workers’ access to justice, the worst level ever recorded.
87% of countries violated the right to strike.
80% violated the right to collective bargaining.
12 countries, including conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Palestine, Somalia, and Sudan, were rated 5+, indicating near-total collapse of workers’ protections.
Meanwhile, The Middle East and North Africa remained the worst-performing regions for workers, while Europe saw the biggest decade-long decline, falling from a score of 1.84 in 2014 to 2.78 in 2025.
ITUC General Secretary, Luc Triangle, blamed decades of deregulation and neoliberal policies for the crisis.
“Governments have collaborated in decades of neglect, leading to the collapse of workers’ rights,” Triangle said.
“This has disenfranchised millions and paved the way for extremism, authoritarianism and a billionaire coup against democracy.”
He added that the deterioration is not inevitable and urged governments and unions to resist coordinated attacks by the ultra-rich and their political allies. “Together, through strong, independent unions and a democracy that delivers for all, we can reclaim power and rebuild economies that serve people, not corporations,” he said.
While countries like Australia, Mexico, and Oman showed improved ratings in the 2025 Index, others such as Argentina, Georgia, and Panama saw a rise in violations.
The ITUC Global Rights Index remains the world’s most authoritative report on workers’ rights, tracking issues such as union-busting, legal restrictions, harassment, violence, and denial of collective bargaining in over 150 countries annually.
