Workers rights continue to erode – what can we do to restore them?

Violations of workers rights have reached a seven-year high, leaving workers in many countries exposed to the worst effects of the pandemic, according to a new global survey.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2020 says 85% of countries have curtailed the right to strike. And in the worst-affected nations, workers have been attacked and even killed while trying to protect basic employment rights.

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow has called for a new global social contract to redress the balance, restore workers rights and address a fundamental imbalance in a global economy that fails to protect workers.

Recovery from the pandemic presents an opportunity to create “a new model for the global economy”, she says in the report, noting workplace democracy should be recognized as the foundation of democratic societies and resilient economies.

Burrow’s comments underscore the World Economic Forum’s call for a Great Reset after the pandemic with an emphasis on equality and sustainability powered by the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The pandemic has highlighted inequality and although the worst impacts on jobs and human rights have been in the developing world, Burrow says many workers in developed nations have been left without sick pay or basic healthcare.

Only a fifth of developed nations provide paid sick leave for some workers and half of the G20's richest nations provide no free public healthcare. Even where sick leave is paid, workers in the informal or gig economy are not covered.

The index says the United States has the worst record on workers rights of the G7 leading economies, where employees who lose their jobs often lose healthcare as well as their income. Globally, 70% of workers have no social protection.

In an interview for the World Economic Forum, Burrow said some companies have treated workers well. “But there are many businesses who have simply taken an opportunity to lay off staff, in some cases, taking money from government support and still laying off staff,” she said.

Describing the situation as “unconscionable” for workers rights she added: “In the developing economies where the virus is only just starting to spread, the health fallout could be disastrous. When you consider that only 21% of countries in the richer world are providing paid sick leave, that's a disaster of humanitarian crisis levels.

“We have to look at how you build a better economy with the convergent crisis of the environment not going away. The underlying inequality crisis was already fragmenting our societies and creating an age of anger.

“So it's time for social dialogue. It's a time for rapid response from governments. The multilateral environment's been found wanting. We've all been saying it's in crisis, but now it's basically hardly there at all,” she added.

Developed nations should work with the developing world to ensure no nation is left behind, said Burrows. “We need a new social contract. How do we balance sustainability, inclusiveness, decent work, human and labour rights and make a future where the world is more equal but also much more stable?”

Burrows emphasized the central role of women in building a better future. “Women's leadership is critical because women hold the fabric of our societies, communities and economies together,” she said.

Calling for an end to the “profit at all costs mentality”, Burrows urged workers, employers, civil society and governments to come together to build an economic future that put people first and respected the planet.

The ITUC Global Rights Index has tracked violations of internationally recognized labour rights by governments and employers for the past seven years and categorizes 144 nations according to their compliance with employment and human rights.

None of the nations in the Index escapes criticism but the 12 nations in the top category – “Sporadic violations of rights” – are: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, and Uruguay.

Eight countries have seen their ratings improve, including Argentina, Canada and Vietnam.