For the ninth year in a row, the Philippines has landed on the list of the world’s ten worst countries for workers, according to the 2024 Global Rights Index released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
In a press briefing held Friday, June 6, the group Workers Rights Watch—which includes major labor organizations such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, Federation of Free Workers, and Migrante Philippines—stressed the country’s repeated inclusion in the list reflects deep-rooted and ongoing violations of labor rights. Other countries named in the report include Bangladesh, Myanmar, Belarus, Turkey, and Egypt.
Among the most frequently violated labor rights in the Philippines is the right to strike, with 87% of cases highlighting this infringement. The right to collective bargaining followed at 80%, while violations of union rights and access to justice stood at 75% and 72% respectively.
“This has been happening for the 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,” said Julius Cainglet of Workers Rights Watch.
The group also pointed out the limitations of Executive Order 23, which created an inter-agency body on freedom of association chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. While the order aimed to foster dialogue, labor leaders criticized the lack of inclusion and consultation with trade unions. According to them, the first meeting this year was merely a reaction to their earlier report and not part of a structured engagement.
Moreover, the Omnibus Guidelines on freedom of association, released under the same executive order, were called out for lacking enforcement mechanisms and for excluding public sector and informal workers.
“This has no teeth,” the group said, emphasizing that the lack of sanctions renders the guidelines ineffective in protecting workers’ rights.
In response, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in a GMA News Online report the report “does not take into consideration sincere efforts of the present administration to resolve long pending issues.” He added that many of the complaints cited in the report date as far back as 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?” Laguesma noted, adding that the country is not under current examination by the International Labour Organization’s Committee on Application of Standards.
