The British anti-poverty group Oxfam recently ranked 38 developed nations on several dimensions of worker well-being. In each case, the United States was at or near the bottom among members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In terms of workers’ rights to organize a union, top place went to tiny Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic; the United States was number 32. As for worker protections like paid leave, equal pay, and protection against discrimination, Germany had the strongest laws, and United States the weakest, at number 38. And when it came to wage support laws like minimum wage and unemployment benefits, top honors went to Belgium, while the U.S. placed 36th.
Oxfam’s conclusion: The United States can and must do more to support workers and working families.
