Philippines Among Top 10 Worst Countries for Workers, Says ITUC Report

For the eighth consecutive year, the Philippines has been named one of the top 10 worst countries for workers by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The 2024 Global Rights Index by the Brussels-based organization cited ongoing issues such as red-tagging and the murders of Filipino labor unionists.

In the report, the Philippines received a score of 5, indicating “No Guarantee of Rights.” The ITUC rates countries from 1 (Sporadic Violations of Rights) to 5+ (No Guarantee of Rights Due to the Breakdown of the Rule of Law). A score of 5 signifies that, despite existing legislation, workers have virtually no access to their rights and face autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices.

Other countries listed alongside the Philippines in the top 10 worst for workers in 2024 include Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Guatemala, Myanmar, Tunisia, and Turkiye.

“Workers and unions in the Philippines remained at the mercy of red tagging, violence, abductions, and arbitrary arrests,” the ITUC report stated. In 2023, the murders of two prominent trade unionists, Alex Dolorosa and Jude Thaddeus Fernandez, highlighted the perilous environment for labor activists. The government has been criticized for fostering a climate of fear and persecution, which hinders workers from forming trade unions.

Philippine affiliates of the ITUC, including the Federation of Free Workers, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), SENTRO, and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), have called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to address these severe labor issues. They emphasize the need for improvements in unionization rates and collective bargaining coverage, which have been declining due to rampant corporate and state impunity against workers.

“Without improvements… the Philippines will continue to be one of the worst countries for workers,” the ITUC affiliates said. They urge the establishment of a truly labor-focused Department of Labor to uphold freedom of association and create a tripartite roadmap for fair labor practices.

As of this report, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Now in its 11th year, the ITUC’s Global Rights Index provides a comprehensive overview of the global fight to defend and exercise fundamental labor rights and freedoms.