PH again among world’s worst countries for workers

PH again among world’s worst countries for workers — ITUC

June 7, 2025 , 10:28 AM

By Bea Rollo

(June 7, 2025) – The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has once again included the Philippines in its list of the “10 Worst Countries for Working People” in the 2025 edition of its Global Rights Index.

This marks the ninth consecutive year the country has landed on the list, earning a score of “5”, which means there is “no guarantee of rights” for workers.

The ITUC reports that workers and unions in the Philippines face constant challenges in exercising even their most fundamental rights, operating in a hostile environment marked by widespread harassment and violence.

A major issue highlighted in the report is the continued use of “red-tagging”, where union leaders and organizers are falsely accused of being linked to the communist insurgency, particularly the New People’s Army (NPA).

This not only puts workers at risk of violence and arrest but also discourages others from forming or joining unions, the report said. On October 27, 2024, two labor organizers from Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) were arrested in Southern Tagalog.

Gavino Panganiban, KMU regional campaign director, was charged with murder and attempted murder, while Maritess David, an organizer for OLALIA-KMU, was accused of firearms violations. Both had been actively involved in relief efforts for workers affected by Typhoon Trami.

Labor groups believe these arrests are part of a broader crackdown on unionists and activists. Other countries on ITUC’s 2025 list include Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Türkiye—nations known for serious labor rights violations.

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