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51m ago

Reports Warn of Mounting Migrant Worker Deaths Linked to Saudi World Cup Projects

Human rights groups call for accountability as thousands of preventable deaths are predicted during Saudi Arabia's World Cup preparations and mega-project boom.

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An artist's illustration of King Khalid University stadium in Abha in Saudi Arabia, one of the proposed venues for the 2034 World Cup

Overview

  • Human Rights Watch and FairSquare have released reports detailing severe risks to migrant workers' lives on Saudi construction sites, including gruesome and avoidable accidents like falls, electrocutions, and decapitations.
  • The majority of migrant worker deaths are misclassified as 'natural causes,' hindering investigations and accountability, with families often denied compensation or facing lengthy claims processes.
  • Saudi authorities report improved safety statistics, but rights groups highlight ongoing transparency issues and systemic failures to protect workers or investigate fatalities adequately.
  • FIFA has committed to worker protection standards for World Cup-related projects but has yet to provide concrete enforcement measures or address compensation for bereaved families.
  • The construction boom driven by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the 2034 World Cup is expected to result in thousands of migrant worker deaths under current conditions, echoing concerns raised during Qatar's 2022 World Cup preparations.