Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
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LRI 2024
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Hungary

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2024.

Hungary’s overall score is 96 out of 100. The overall score for Hungary is greater than the regional average observed across Eastern Europe (88). Within the Eastern Europe, the highest score is observed for Greece & Hungary (96).

Ireland ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 1955 and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) in 1955.

Labour Rights Index 2024

96/100

LRI Country Score

100/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

8.65 %

Trade union density rate (%)

17.8 %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

1.43

SDG indicator 8.8.2

4

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

Yes

1

§231 & 271(3) of Labour Code 2012; §228-A of the Criminal Code 1978

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

Yes

1

§XVII, Constitution of Hungary, 2011; §276-284, Labour Code 2012

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

Yes

1

Strike Law 1989; Passenger Transport Services Act 2012; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Hungary)

D

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

Yes

1

§6 of the Strike Law 1989

A

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: §231 & 271(3) of Labour Code 2012; §228-A of the Criminal Code 1978

Information

Source: §XVII, Constitution of Hungary, 2011; §276-284, Labour Code 2012

Information

Source: Strike Law 1989; Passenger Transport Services Act 2012; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Hungary)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"Workers performing activities determined by authorities to be essential to the public interest, such as schools, public transport, telecommunications, water, and power, could not strike unless an agreement was reached on provision of “sufficient services” or “minimum services” during a strike. Minimum services requirements were a disincentive to strike, and thus employees needed to resort to other types of collective actions, such as rolling strikes (strikes lasting a few hours on consecutive days). Courts determined the definition of sufficient services. National trade unions opposed the law on the basis that courts lacked expertise to rule on minimum service levels and generally refused to rule on such cases, effectively inhibiting the right to strike."

Information

Source: §6 of the Strike Law 1989

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

"§ 6 (1) Initiating a strike or participating in a legal strike does not constitute a violation of the obligation arising from the employment relationship, which is why no adverse action can be taken against the employee. (2) An employee participating in a legal strike - with the exception described in paragraph (3) - is entitled to the rights arising from the employment relationship. (3) In the absence of a different agreement, the employee is not entitled to remuneration or other benefits due to the work performed for the work time lost due to the strike. (4) Social insurance rights and obligations related to the employment relationship are governed by social insurance legislation, with the requirement that the duration of a legal strike be considered as service time. Forrás: https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=98900007.tv - Wolters Kluwer - Minden jog fenntartva!"