Narayan AmmachchiArgentina, Panama and Ecuador are among the 10 worst countries in the world for workers’ rights, according to the latest Global Rights Index published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The three Latin American nations joined Belarus, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, Tunisia and Turkey in the lowest-ranked category of the annual survey.
The ITUC said conditions across Latin America remain particularly concerning, citing a rise in violence against trade unionists and persistent violations of labor rights.
Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Peru were identified as countries with serious and systematic abuses, including killings of union activists, arbitrary arrests, police repression during protests, dismissals linked to union activity and judicial harassment of labor leaders.
The report highlighted Uruguay as a regional bright spot after the country strengthened protections for strikes and expanded social dialogue mechanisms, allowing it to regain the highest rating in the index.
Mexico also improved its ranking, although the ITUC said significant restrictions remain, particularly regarding freedom of association in key sectors.
The study assessed 151 countries based on compliance with International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions. The Americas recorded an average score of 3.72 on the index, where 1 represents the highest level of respect for workers’ rights and 5 the lowest.
The score marks a deterioration from the previous year and extends a negative trend that has persisted for three consecutive years.
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