Worst Region in the World REGION
2023
SCALE
MENA
19 countries
4.53
(4) Systematic violations of rights to (5) No Guarantee of rights
Asia-Pacific
23 countries
4.18
(4) Systematic violations of rights to (5) No Guarantee of rights
Africa
43 countries
3.84
(3) Regular violations of rights to (4) Systematic violations of rights
Americas
25 countries
3.52
(3) Regular violations of rights to (4) Systematic violations of rights
Europe
39 countries
2.56
(2) Repeated violations of rights to (3) Regular violations of rights
Middle East and North Africa is the worst region for working people
In 2023, the Middle East and North Africa continued to be the worst region in the world for workers’ rights with an average rating of 4.53.
In the Gulf countries, notwithstanding progress in Qatar, the kafala system remained in place and in practice, migrant workers, who represented the overwhelming majority of the working population in the region, remained exposed to severe human rights abuses. In Algeria and Egypt, independent trade unions still struggled to obtain registration from hostile authorities, which severely impeded their capacity to function effectively.
The conflict zones of the region: Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, have seen a breakdown of the law under which no workers’ rights nor their fundamental liberties can be guaranteed. In Tunisia, President Kais Saied tightened his grip on power. Having dissolved the Parliament in July 2021, President Saied unilaterally adopted a new constitution in July 2022 without consultation with political parties or social partners. The past year has seen arrests and violations of collective bargaining rights, as well as repudiations of the right for international workers’ unions to demonstrate solidarity with their local allies. 18
In Israel, the rights to strike, collectively bargain and form a trade union were undermined. The country is in the worst region for working people: the Middle East and North Africa. Credit: Ahmad Gharabli / AFP
2023 ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX
