ITUC Africa and other prominent labor unions have raised concerns over the exploitation of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia by filing a protest with the UN, just weeks before FIFA formally awards Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup. 18 million workers are represented by ITUC Africa, a trade organization that has denounced the “cycle of abuse” that African migrant workers endure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Under the Kafala system, these workers who are vital to the economies of Saudi Arabia and their home countries face unrelenting exploitation, including wage theft, forced labor, hazardous working conditions, and flagrant violations of their rights and dignity,” the ITUC stated. “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, is flagrantly and flagrantly violated by Saudi Arabia’s treatment of African migrant labor.
ITUC Africa challenges Saudi 2034 bid over rights issues
The most recent group to raise concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights situation is the ITUC. FIFA was urged by two US senators this week to avoid selecting Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup. FIFA granted other qualified countries less than a month to enter the tournament, and the Arab Kingdom is the only bidder. In December, FIFA will hold an unusual virtual congress to decide who will win the World Cups in 2030 and 2034. FIFA has consistently insisted that the bidding process was fair, and the law firm Clifford Chance evaluated the bidders’ human rights policy. However, rights organizations strongly criticized the evaluation, claiming that it was too narrowly focused. The ITUC expressed their concerns in a letter sent in October to Patrice Motsepe, the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a close supporter of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Motsepe discussed the “privilege and the excitement of employment” of migrant workers at Davos in 2022. The ITUC urged CAF to hold FIFA accountable for its human rights commitments in the letter.
UN complaint filed over Saudi human rights concerns
Migrant labor abuses in detail were brought to light. “Migrant workers, particularly those from Africa, receive the most heinous and cruel treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” It appears commonplace for Saudi Arabian employers to subject African migrant labor to various forms of racism, bigotry, and prejudice. The letter went on to say that women employees face the worst treatment, including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. The United Nations has received a complaint against Saudi Arabia’s labor policies from a trade union organization that represents 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 mark the daily existence of African migrant workers in Saudi Arabia” in an account that compiles migrant worker testimonies and malpractice and abuse claims.
Saudi 2034 hosting faces backlash from ITUC Africa
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 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. 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.”
Concern raises due to rights issues in Saudi bid
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. 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.