New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York, indicates that worker rights are some of the most neglected human rights worldwide. This revelation stems from a report released by the CIRIGHTS Data Project, the globe’s largest dataset on human rights.

Since 1981, this project has been assessing countries’ adherence to 25 internationally recognized human rights, offering an annual evaluation. In the project’s latest report, countries like Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, and Portugal received the highest scores overall, reflecting their strong commitment to human rights. Conversely, countries like Iran, Syria, North Korea, China, and Iraq fared the worst.

A dire state

Notably, the report underscores the dire state of worker rights globally, highlighting deficiencies in protecting fundamental aspects such as the right to form trade unions and engage in collective bargaining.

“Previous research shows that it is unlikely that governments protect the rights to an adequate minimum wage, occupational health and safety, or reasonable limitations on work hours (including voluntary overtime work) unless they allow workers to form independent trade unions and to bargain collectively,” the researchers explain. “In other words, the right to unionize, bargain, and strike are the gateway rights. If they are protected, all other labor rights are likely to be protected as well. But globally, the gateway rights are in decline.”

The researchers note that while democratic and affluent nations tend to safeguard labor rights better than others, economic inequality has surged across the globe.

“Economic globalization has increased competition among nations, which has led governments to favor corporations over workers in conflicts between the two,” they say.

Facing exploitation

In the least economically developed countries, workers often face exploitation by large agricultural, mining, and oil extraction companies. Similar scenarios occurred during the initial phases of industrialization in the United States.

“It is important to remember that companies and workers typically take adversarial positions about how much attention corporate leaders should pay to what workers want concerning the terms and conditions of their work,” the authors continue. “Corporate leaders typically prefer to distribute most of the profit from their activities to shareholders, not workers.”

Tough labor regulations in one country may prompt companies to relocate. The authors emphasize the government’s responsibility in ensuring that workers have a fair platform to voice their concerns.

“Without government policies protecting workers, companies can do whatever they want to keep unions out,” the authors conclude.