Saudi World Cup plans risk migrant worker safety

New Delhi

Human rights groups have warned that preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia could come at a serious human cost. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and FairSquare claim FIFA and Saudi authorities are failing to protect migrant workers involved in the event's construction and planning.

HRW reported that migrant workers in Saudi Arabia still face unsafe work conditions, poor safety measures, and a lack of social protections. The report says FIFA awarded the tournament without doing proper checks on human rights issues.

"FIFA is knowingly risking another World Cup that harms workers," said HRW. They highlighted that many employers are not following Saudi laws requiring safety training, protective gear, and health assessments for large workforces.

FairSquare also criticized the Saudi government’s failure to investigate or prevent workplace deaths. They said there are serious gaps in Saudi policies, with many deaths not properly recorded or explained.

A previous report in 2022 revealed over 6,500 migrant workers died in Qatar during preparations for the 2022 World Cup. Human rights advocates fear similar outcomes could occur in Saudi Arabia.

The groups called on companies and fans to pressure FIFA and Saudi Arabia to ensure safer, fairer treatment for migrant workers before tournament preparations move forward.