Broken Promises: Forced Labour in Saudi Arabia and the Fast Tracked World Cup Bid
Global sporting events bring a range of human rights risks, including exploitation of construction, security and hospitality workers – most of whom are migrants. Despite the stated requirement that all countries bidding to host FIFA tournaments should uphold international standards in protecting human rights as a criterion for selection, Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the 2023 Club World Cup and is exclusively being considered to host the 2034 World Cup. This is alarming considering systematic labour and human rights violations by this regime that stand in breach of FIFA’s binding human rights eligibility requirements.
In-depth, confidential, one-to-one interviews with 42 migrant workers conducted by Equidem from May – December 2023 and February 2020 – July 2021 documented significant labour and human rights violations facing migrant workers in the hospitality, maintenance and construction sectors in Saudi Arabia. All interviews were conducted by Equidem team members who are either currently or formerly migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, providing critical insight into working conditions for the 13.4 million migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia.
Equidem calls upon FIFA to apply and enhance its binding and actionable commitments to address risk factors for labour and human rights violations as a condition of confirming Saudi Arabia’s bid to host FIFA World Cup 2034. Saudi Arabia cannot guarantee compliance with international human rights and labour standards without taking significant measures to dismantle the Kafala system, protect freedom of association, extend labour rights to migrant workers and address nationality-based discrimination, unfair hiring practices, workplace violence, exploitative wages, overwork, and exposure to occupational health and safety risks. These issues are rooted in the lack of democratic power for workers and is reflected in other human rights issues including the targeting of rights activists, restrictions on freedom of expression, the enactment of repressive laws, the abuse of the criminal justice system, and the mistreatment of women and LGBTQI+ communities.