The fight against corruption is a trade union fight

According to the United Nations, corruption costs the world about US$2.6 trillion annually, or 5% of global GDP. This enormous loss serves as an example of how corruption may erode democracy, impede economic growth, and promote political instability. Workers and the public at large are deprived of infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, and other vital services due to corruption. Additionally, it makes the global climate catastrophe and environmental deterioration worse. 

For workers, the impact of corruption is deeply personal. In workplaces, corruption leads to exploitation, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and the erosion of workers’ rights. Corruption weakens collective bargaining by enabling favouritism, discrimination, and unfair practices. Corruption also exacerbates inequality outside of the workplace by fostering a culture in which the powerful thrive at the expense of the vulnerable. Trade unions support both the rights of workers and social justice in general. Building a more just and equitable society requires anti-corruption initiatives. 

Workers are often at the front lines of the fight against corruption. Yet, without robust protections, workers who speak up and fight against corruption face significant risks, including retaliation, harassment, job loss, and even threats to their lives and the lives of their loved ones. 

Whistleblower protection empowers workers to report corruption without fear of retaliation. By safeguarding whistleblowers, we foster a “speak-up” culture that prioritizes accountability and transparency. This benefits workplaces by promoting honesty and integrity, creating environments where ethical practices are upheld. 

Among these workers, those in oversight, control, and judicial positions face unique vulnerabilities. These workers are often on the front lines of corruption cases, tasked with investigating wrongdoing and avoiding theft. Their critical role in upholding the rule of law makes them prime targets for retaliation, threats, and undue influence. 

Without this protection these workers are exposed to risks that undermine their ability to work and act impartially. Robust whistleblower protections ensure investigations and procedures are conducted without fear, promoting accountability across sectors. 

PSI campaign for an ILO Convention on the protection of whisltleblowers.

 Whistleblower protection is a workplace issue. Retaliation, harassment and ultimately dismissal – the primary risks faced by whistleblowers – occur at work. While regional frameworks such as OECD guidelines, Council of Europe standards, and the EU Directive on Whistleblower Protection provide valuable guidance, they are limited and insufficient. A global challenge requires a global response. 

The International Labour Organization, with its mandate to protect workers and promote decent work, is uniquely positioned to establish an international convention on whistleblower protection. Such a convention would: 

• Set clear, globally recognized standards for protecting workers who report corruption, ensuring consistent practices across countries.

• Encourage the 187 ILO member States to adopt or strengthen national legislation, creating better protections for workers worldwide.

• Empower workers to report corruption without fear, regardless of local legal limitations.

• Reinforce other international labour standards by ensuring abuses and violations can be safely reported and addressed. 

An ILO convention on the protection of whistleblowers would be a transformative step toward accountability and fairness in the workplace and beyond. 

On this International Anti-Corruption Day we urge again governments, employers, and international organisations to make combating corruption and protecting whistleblowers a top priority. As a crucial instrument for protecting workers and employers and bolstering democratic institutions, we appeal to the International Labour Organisation to adopt a convention on the protection of whistleblowers. 

Corruption thrives where silence prevails and accountability is weak. By protecting whistleblowers, we amplify the voices of those who stand against wrongdoing. By supporting anti-corruption efforts, we take a stand for workers’ rights, social justice, and a better future for all. 

Today, PSI reaffirms its commitment to a world where transparency and integrity prevail over corruption and impunity. Together, we can create workplaces and societies rooted in fairness, equality, and dignity for all.