Migrant Workers Dying On Saudi Job Sites Amid World Cup Preparations: Rights Groups

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a report by Human Rights Watch highlighted the preventable deaths of migrant workers from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal in Saudi Arabia. These deaths were a result of accidents on job sites and work-related illnesses. The report accused Saudi authorities of misreporting deaths and failing to investigate, depriving families of compensation and the knowledge of how their loved ones died.

As Saudi Arabia embarks on major infrastructure projects, such as hosting the 2034 men’s soccer World Cup and developing the futuristic city Neom, rights groups warn of more avoidable deaths in the future. The investigations revealed cases of workers being exploited, such as one Bangladeshi worker who was electrocuted and whose family was pressured into a local burial for compensation.

Human Rights Watch’s Minky Worden emphasized the urgency for Saudi authorities and FIFA to implement basic labor rights protections. FairSquare’s report on Nepali contractors in Saudi Arabia warned of thousands more unexplained deaths without accountability. Saudi Arabia, known for labor abuses tied to its economic diversification efforts, faces scrutiny as it prepares for the 2034 World Cup.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia did not respond to the report. The kingdom’s commitments to workers’ welfare and labor protections were defended by FIFA in a letter to Human Rights Watch. While Qatar faced criticism for labor abuses during the 2022 World Cup, Worden expressed concerns that the situation for foreign workers could worsen with the upcoming 2034 World Cup.