Everyone has the right to decent work
Work is about more than earning a living. Decent work helps people build secure lives, support their families, participate in their communities and plan for the future. By protecting workers’ rights and strengthening trade unions, we can build a fairer economy and a society where everyone can live well.
What are workers' rights and trade union rights?
Everyone should be able to work, and in conditions that are safe, fair and dignified. No one should be forced to choose between their health and their income, face discrimination at work, or be unable to make their voice heard in decisions that affect their working lives.
The right to work and rights at work are guaranteed in international law, in articles 6, 7 and 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which the UK Government ratified ICESCR in 1976, and in doing so agreed to abide by the rights in it.
Everyone has the right to decent work and just and favourable conditions at work. This includes the right to freely choose work as well as fair wages and equal pay which provides a decent living for themselves and their families safe and healthy working conditions, protection from discrimination and equal opportunity to progress, and reasonable working hours along with the right to rest and paid holiday.
Everyone also has the right to form, join and participate in the activities of trade unions, to bargain collectively, and to take collective and strike action to protect their interests. Trade unions have the right to function freely.
Work is one of the foundations people need to live well. It connects directly to other rights, including the rights to food, housing, health, education and social security. When work is insecure, unsafe or poorly paid, these other foundations are often put at risk too.
In practice, workers’ rights and trade union rights mean:
- Everyone can access decent work that provides fair pay and dignity
- Workplaces are safe, healthy and free from discrimination, harassment and exploitation
- Workers have a voice in decisions that affect their working lives
- Trade unions can organise, represent members and bargain collectively without undue restrictions
- Workers can take collective action, including strike action, to defend their rights and interests
- Governments create the conditions for fair work through strong labour protections, enforcement and social security systems
- People can hold employers and decision-makers accountable when their rights are not respected
When these foundations are strong, people can thrive at work and beyond it. When they are weak, people face insecurity, poor health, financial hardship and reduced opportunities, and this harm is avoidable.
Lift the Ban
We are part of the Lift the Ban Coalition, a group of over 200 non-profit organisations, think tanks, businesses, trade unions and faith groups, who have come together to call on the UK Government to give people seeking asylum the right to work.
The right to work is an economic and social right belonging to all people, irrespective of immigration status.
Why stronger protections are needed now?
Across the UK, many workers are experiencing the consequences of insecure and unequal working conditions.
- Millions of people are in insecure work and struggle to plan for the future.
- Wages have failed to keep pace with the cost of living for many households.
- Workplace stress, burnout and poor mental health are increasing.
- Discrimination continues to affect many workers, particularly disabled people, women, racialised communities and migrant workers.
- New technologies and changing forms of work are creating uncertainty about rights and protections.
- Trade unions continue to face restrictions that limit their ability to organise and represent workers effectively.
Poor working conditions are not inevitable. They reflect choices about labour laws, workplace practices, enforcement, investment and economic policy.
Improved and strong legal protections create clear standards, strengthen workers’ voices, and help ensure employers and governments are held accountable when rights are not respected.
We all rely on strong systems at different points in our lives. Strong workers’ rights and trade unions benefit everyone by helping to create fairer workplaces, stronger communities and a more equal society.
Change happens when we act together. By better protecting workers’ rights and trade union rights, grounded in human rights, dignity and equality, we can work towards ensuring everyone can rely on the foundations they need to live well.
Workers' rights resources
Read our blogs on the right to work and workers’ rights.
Explore our reports, briefings and submissions on work and workers’ rights.
Read about your rights at work with guidance from the TUC and Citizens Advice.