Index: Albania among countries that consistently violate workers' rights

Albania has been ranked third out of five categories in the International Trade Union Confederation's (ITUC) annual index, which measures violations of workers' rights worldwide. According to the recently published report, our country continues to be part of the countries where violations of workers' rights are persistent.

The ITUC index  assesses 151 countries using 87 indicators based on United Nations standards and international treaties. It divides countries into five categories, with category five describing the worst situation – countries with no legal guarantees for workers’ rights – and category one including countries with sporadic violations.

Albania remains in the third tier, positioning itself as a country where violations occur regularly.

The report highlights an overall deterioration in workers' rights worldwide, with more than one in three countries classified at the lowest possible level – with no guarantees for workers' rights.

In Europe, only 7 countries have managed to maintain the highest rating, compared to 18 countries in 2014.

"This appalling trend underscores the severity of the ongoing assault by governments and corporations on fundamental labor rights and freedoms over the past decade,"  the report said.

Meanwhile, the report mentions that in Albania and several other countries such as Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro and the United Kingdom, governments have abused legal power by excessively expanding the definition of  "essential services"  to restrict the right to strike.

According to the report, violations of workers' right to strike remained at the highest level globally since the Index began in 2014.

"In 2025, strikes were restricted or banned in 131 countries (87%), unchanged from 2024 and up from 63% in 2014."

This repression, according to the report, occurs at a time when strikes are recognized as a right by Convention 87 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), ratified by 158 of its 187 member states.

The report also cites systematic efforts by some companies in Europe to undermine union activity, while in some countries the creation of so-called "yellow unions", controlled by employers, has been observed, which diminish the role of protecting employee rights.

In the global rankings, the 10 countries with the worst situation for workers' rights include Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini (Africa), Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tunisia and Turkey.

In 2025, the ban or restriction of strikes was observed in 131 countries (87%), a figure that remained unchanged from the previous year, but represents a large increase compared to 2014, when this occurred in 63% of countries.

Specific cases are also mentioned in Belgium and Switzerland, where trade unionists were arrested or fined for participating in strikes, reinforcing the trend of intimidation and suppression of the right to organize./ Citizens Channel