The United Nations has received a complaint against Saudi Arabia’s labor policies from a trade union representing 18 million African workers. With the nation set to receive hosting rights for the World Cup next month, it has demanded “immediate and decisive action.” The African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) contends that
“the relentless cycle of abuse and exploitation marks the daily existence of African migrant workers in Saudi Arabia”
in an account that compiles migrant worker testimony and malpractice and abuse claims.
Migrant labor in Saudi Arabia:
“Under the Kafala system, these workers who are vital to the economy of Saudi Arabia and their home countries face constant exploitation, including wage theft, forced labor, hazardous working conditions, and flagrant abuses of their rights and dignity.”
There are serious worries that these abuses might worsen as a result of Saudi Arabia’s quest to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The situation is likely to deteriorate if swift and decisive action is not taken, leading to more avoidable fatalities and other human and labor rights breaches. International human rights legislation, particularly the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, are flagrantly and flagrantly violated by Saudi Arabia’s treatment of African migrant labor. Article three of FIFA’s statutes states that the organization is dedicated to upholding all internationally recognized human rights and will work to advance their protection. FIFA is also a signatory to the UN Guiding Principles.
The World Cup spotlight
The governing body of football has been accused on several occasions of failing to adequately address the human rights concerns associated with hosting the largest athletic competition in the world in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, ITUC-Africa has sent a letter to Dr. Patrice Motsepe, head of the Confederation of African Football (Caf). Motsepe, a supporter of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, is urged to “compel Fifa to respect its commitment to human rights as enshrined in its statutes and reinforced through the Fifa Human Rights Policy” after claiming that African workers in Saudi Arabia receive “the most crude and brutal human treatment.” ITUC-Africa claims that it has not heard back after sending a communication on October 15. Senior attorneys, including former FIFA governance specialists, warned of the human rights implications of moving the event to Saudi Arabia in a study that prompted that intervention. Other European trade unions and NGOs have also voiced their concerns. African countries are now included in the statements of concern.
Challenges for migrant workers
ITUC-Africa claims that it enhanced working conditions for African workers in Qatar both before and after the 2022 World Cup by collaborating positively with Qatari officials. However, no comparable procedure has been made possible in Saudi Arabia because trade unions and foreign NGOs are not recognized there. According to ITUC-Africa general secretary Akhator Joel Odigie,
“Saudi Arabia’s treatment of migrant workers encourages whimsical and egregious human and labor rights violations.”
“The mistreatment of African migrant laborers is more severe, deep, and heartbreaking. The rising claim that black lives are cheap, throwaway, and unimportant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is strongly supported by the misuse of the law and its application. Because we wish to start a chain reaction of progressive labor migration reform in the Middle East, we concentrate on Saudi Arabia. It would be like pushing “water from the hill to the valley” if Saudi Arabia were to implement a true, cooperative, inclusive, and effective labor law reform.
Living Conditions and abuse
At a virtual congress of its 211 member countries, FIFA is scheduled to confirm the host of the 2034 World Cup on December 11. Although Saudi Arabia is the sole country on the ballot, more and more people are urging FIFA to reconsider before casting its vote. In a letter to Infantino last week, two US senators begged him to “look for a host country with a record of upholding human rights.” On December 11, 2024, FIFA, the global football body, will formally ratify Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup. According to reports, FIFA has finished assessing the Saudi offer. Under FIFA’s bidding procedures, Saudi officials filed their “bid book” on July 29 along with an Independent Context Assessment and a Human Rights Strategy. All three papers flagrantly disregard known hazards that workers encounter, such as forced labor. Additionally, they don’t analyze enforcement gaps or take into account the opinions of parties other than Saudi government officials, such as rightsholders. The enormous amount of development needed for the event, including 11 new and renovated stadiums, is revealed in Saudi Arabia’s hosting paperwork. In addition to the giga-projects under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, such as the new, upmarket NEOM metropolis, there will be a substantial expansion of the airport, road, rail, and bus networks, as well as the construction of more than 185,000 additional hotel rooms.