Keyfind - 10. Trade Union - 2020

10. TRADE UNION

A. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Nearly 60% (68 of 115) of the countries in the Index have requisite provisions on freedom of association as required under ILO Convention 87. Of the remaining 47 countries, 17 from Africa, 22 from Asia, six in the Americas, have limited access to freedom of association and so do not have legal provisions allowing workers to form and join unions of their own choice.

Table 56: Freedom of Association
Region	Freedom of Association	Limited Access to FoA	Total Countries
Africa	17	17	34
Americas	9	6	15
Asia	8	22	30
Europe	32	2	34
Oceania	2	0	2
Total Countries	68	47	115

B. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

More than 50% (60 of 115) countries require access to collective bargaining to workers and their unions to negotiate on working conditions with the employers. The remaining 55 countries, of which 16 are in Africa, seven in the Americas and 22 in Asia, have limited access to collective bargaining.

Table 57: Collective Bargaining
Region	Access to Collective Bargaining	Limited Access to Collective Bargaining	Total Countries
Africa	18	16	34
Americas	8	7	15
Asia	8	22	30
Europe	25	9	34
Oceania	1	1	2
Total Countries	60	55	115

C. RIGHT TO STRIKE

One third (38 of 115) of the countries grant workers the right to strike. However, a majority of countries (77 of 115) limit access to the right to strike, including 25 countries in Africa and 27 in Asia.

Table 58: Right to Strike
Region	Right to Strike	Limited Access to Right to Strike	Total Countries
Africa	9	25	34
Americas	3	12	15
Asia	3	27	30
Europe	22	12	34
Oceania	1	1	2
Total Countries	38	77	115

D. REPLACING WORKERS ON STRIKE

While around 60% (71 of 115) prohibit employers from replacing those workers who are on strike, more than 40 countries do not have any such provision, with most (18) of these countries found in Asia.

Table 59: Replacing Workers on Strike
Region	Prohibition on replacement of striking workers	No Prohibition	Total Countries
Africa	21	13	34
Americas	10	5	15
Asia	12	18	30
Europe	28	6	34
Oceania	1	1	2
Total Countries	72	43	115