Bangladesh has once again been named among the ten worst countries in the world for working people, according to the 2025 edition of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index.

This marks the ninth consecutive year since 2017 the country has ranked in the Index’s lowest category, with a score of 5, signifying that there is no guarantee of workers’ rights.

Despite its vital role in the global garment supply chain—producing for major international brands such as Zara and H&M and accounting for nearly 8 per cent of global output—Bangladesh continues to be marred by severe and systemic violations of labour rights, the report said.

The ITUC Index, published on June 2, highlighted continued repression of union activity, frequent worker dismissals, and violent responses to protests, particularly in the garment and beverage sectors.

It further indicated that Bangladesh was grouped with Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia and Türkiye as one of the worst-performing countries for workers in 2025.

The report also observed that the Middle East and North Africa remained the most dangerous region for working people, with an average score of 4.68, reflecting widespread and routine suppression of the rights to organise, protest, and engage in collective bargaining.

In February, over 800 workers at Transcom Beverages, the exclusive PepsiCo franchisee in Bangladesh, staged strikes in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chittagong to protest the dismissal of ten union leaders.

Police responded with baton charges, arrests, and the alleged use of provocateurs, resulting in 23 workers being detained, the ITUC Index said.

The report noted that Bangladesh’s labour laws were still considered among the most restrictive globally.

It mentioned that union formation was limited to the factory level and restricted to permanent employees, with a maximum of three trade unions allowed per workplace.

The Index also highlighted that certain groups of workers—such as civil servants, firefighters, and most public sector employees—were completely barred from unionising.

Additionally, it pointed out that approximately 458,000 workers in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) were prohibited from forming independent unions and were instead required to operate under government-controlled Worker Welfare Associations with minimal authority.

The report identified that collective bargaining was extremely rare in Bangladesh and that the right to strike was heavily regulated.

It indicated that any strike perceived as a threat to national interest or extending beyond 30 days could be declared illegal and referred to the Labour Court.

It further stated that strikes were completely banned in critical sectors, including EPZs and foreign-owned factories.

The report also pointed out that the legal requirements for authorising a strike were excessively stringent and that unauthorised industrial actions were subject to punishment under harsh laws like the Special Powers Act, 1974.

Regarding trade union formation, the ITUC report mentioned that union activity in Bangladesh was subject to intense government oversight.

It noted that authorities had the power to reject union constitutions, dissolve unions without prior notice, and confiscate union documents at their discretion.

The report said that limitations on the geographic scope of federations significantly restricted national-level representation, particularly for unions based in urban areas. It also observed that sector-wide collective bargaining was nearly non-existent.

The ITUC’s 2025 report placed Bangladesh’s situation in the context of a global decline in labour conditions.

Of the 151 countries surveyed, only seven earned the highest rating of 1, a significant drop from 18 just ten years ago.

In contrast, 51 countries—including Bangladesh—received scores of 5 or 5+, the lowest possible ratings, reflecting rising levels of repression, legal collapse, or open conflict.

The report found that 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike, 80 per cent infringed on collective bargaining, and 72 per cent restricted workers’ access to justice—the worst level recorded since the Index’s inception.

Arrests of workers were documented in 71 countries, and violence against trade unionists was reported in 40.

The Index’s release coincides with the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, where the ITUC is advocating for stronger international enforcement of labour rights.

A dedicated session on the Global Rights Index is scheduled for 10 June, featuring testimonies from union leaders in the most affected countries, along with remarks from ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle and Legal Director Paapa Danquah.

Luc Triangle warned that the global decline in workers’ rights was the consequence of decades of deregulation and political neglect.

He described the situation as a global scandal and cautioned that, if the current trajectory persisted, no country would retain the highest labour rights rating within the next decade.

However, he emphasised that this decline was reversible through bold action, strong unions, and democratic accountability