Workers' rights in "systemic crisis," warns International Trade Union Confederation

Workers' rights worldwide are deteriorating at an alarming rate, signaling a "systemic crisis" that extends even to established democracies, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The organization's latest global index reveals a disturbing rise in repression, including arrests, violence, and digital surveillance, impacting workers and union leaders.

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The 2026 edition of the ITUC Global Rights Index reveals that the crisis in workers' rights is no longer limited to a few isolated cases – it is now at the very heart of democracies.

The ITUC's thirteenth global rights index points to a worrying trend where countries previously considered stable, such as the United States and France, are now contributing to a global surge in repression. This situation, the ITUC warns, exposes a systemic attack on both democracy and labor rights.

In its assessment, the ITUC notes that the United States has joined the list of countries requiring close monitoring due to accelerating attacks on workers' freedoms. Restrictions on collective bargaining and the use of force against workers are cited as key factors in this erosion of democratic principles.

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A coordinated attack on democracy – a billionaires' coup, supported by political leaders; workers are stripped of their rights and silenced, and economies are manipulated for the benefit of a handful of powerful people.

France, meanwhile, is experiencing its worst-ever ranking, reflecting a prolonged decline in workers' rights. The ITUC specifically mentions the repression of trade union activists and restrictions on the right to protest as significant issues within the country. Luc Triangle, the ITUC's general secretary, described the situation as a "coordinated attack on democracy" orchestrated by powerful elites.

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Trade union leaders are targeted, facing arrest, violence, or legal action.

The report identifies three key structural trends: prominent union leaders being targeted with arrests and legal action; increased digital surveillance used to control and silence workers; and governments increasingly sidelining unions in policy-making. The ITUC argues that this crisis is no longer confined to isolated cases but is now at the core of democratic societies.

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Digital surveillance allows for the control and disciplining of staff, silencing workers and preventing union mobilization.