HRW flags safety concerns for migrant workers in Saudi Arabia

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on May 14th voiced concern over the dangers facing migrant workers who would build the stadiums for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, citing a lack of safety in the country’s construction sites, according to Al-Monitor via AFP.

“Scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents, including falling from buildings, electrocution, and even decapitation,” HRW said.

Human Rights Watch and FairSquare have stating that labourers are dying from avoidable workplace mishaps, according to the BBC on May 14th.

Reports note numerous deaths are misclassified as having happened due to natural causes, denying families any form of compensation. Both organisations urged Saudi authorities to implement essential safety measures for the nation’s extensive migrant workforce. The calls come amid growing international concern over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

The Middle East Eye reported on February 5th that  Saudi Arabia disclosed plans to execute five young Shia men and a Shia businessman. The United Nations called the charges thy faced “arbitrary.” Activists and legal specialists denounced the executions, claiming the nation’s actions are racially-driven. The authorities detained the five young men while they were not yet adults.

HRW, which has examined almost 50 death cases in the nation, claimed that the dangers of worker deaths and injuries are rising as the country’s government accelerates construction work in the run up to the World Cup in 2034.

The Gulf state won the right to host the 2034 World Cup at 2024 FIFA Congress in spite of human rights concerns. HRW urged FIFA to thoroughly investigate work-related deaths in Saudi Arabia and compensate grieving families. HRW reported FIFA will create a workers’ welfare system “dedicated to mandatory standards and enforcement mechanisms” for World Cup construction projects.

FIFA has yet to provide “details on concrete measures to prevent, investigate, and compensate migrant worker deaths such as risk-based heat protection measures or life insurance.”

Human Rights Watch argued “FIFA is knowingly risking yet another tournament that will unnecessarily come at a grave human cost.” This statement refers to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup. Amnesty International and other rights organisations said thousands of migrant workers died before the 2022 event. Doha reported only 37 deaths on World Cup projects.

Al-Monitor via AFP, BBC, Middle East Eye