PH among 10 worst countries for workers for 9th year

The Philippines has retained its spot as one of the 10 worst countries for workers, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index released on Friday, June 6.

Workers Rights Watch, which released the report in a press conference, said the Philippines made the 10 worst list for the ninth straight year.

Others listed under 10 worst countries for workers include:

• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Eswatini
• Myanmar
• Nigeria
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Workers Rights Watch is comprised of the Federation of Free Workers , Kilusang Mayo Uno, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, National Federation of Sugar Workers, Alliance of Concerned Teachers. Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan, Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Migrante Philippines, and the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights.

Based on the report, the right to strike is the most violated workers’ right in the Philippines at 87%, followed by right to collective bargaining agreement at 80%, right to establish or join union at 75%, and right to justice at 72%.

“This has been happening for ninth straight year, and we really have a lot to do in engaging the government and employers so we can be removed from this list,” Julius Cainglet of Workers Rights Watch said in a press conference.

Workers Rights Watch said that while President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. issued Executive Order 23 establishing the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) on Freedom of Association (FOA) headed by the Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, this IAC did not include trade unions, and that workers and employers were belatedly made as regular dialogue partners.

“Ironically, no regular meetings with social partners were set. The first time EO 23 IAC met with workers this year, it was not scheduled, but a knee jerk reaction to the WRW (Workers Rights Watch) Report launched on March 17, 2025,” the group added.

Likewise, the group said the Omnibus Guidelines on the Exercise of Freedom of Association and Civil Liberties, which outlines the behavior of state security forces and necessary protocols, issued jointly by agencies under the EO 23 does not provide sanctions and other administrative and criminal liabilities of erring state security forces.

In addition, the group said the Omnibus Guidelines does not cover workers in public service, nor those in the informal economy.

“With no teeth that an Executive Order could provide, it does not discourage violating FOA (freedom of association) of workers,” it added.

In a message to GMA News Online, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the rating "does not take into consideration sincere efforts of the present administration to resolve long pending issues."

He said for the last two years, the Philippine government has been addressing complaints which were filed since 2009.

"If indeed the Philippines is a worst country for workers, how come we got elected for the first time as a member of the Committee on Freedom of Association last year. This year, the Philippines is not on the list of countries that  will be examined by the Committee on Application of Standards (CAS)," Laguesma said.

GMA News Online also reached out to Malacañang for comment and will publish it once available.—with a report from Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News