Human Rights Watch Warns of Migrant Worker Deaths Ahead of 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Abuses on Saudi Construction Sites

• ⚠️ Human Rights Watch reports grave abuses against migrant workers on large construction sites in Saudi Arabia.
• 🚨 The risks to these workers are expected to increase as preparations for the 2034 World Cup intensify.

Dangers Faced by Migrant Workers

• 🏗️ Workers are reportedly dying from falls, electrocution, and being crushed or decapitated by heavy machinery.
• 🌡️ Heat-related illnesses are also a significant concern for the workforce.
• 💔 Many deaths are allegedly misclassified as natural causes, and families face difficulties in repatriating bodies and receiving compensation.

Calls for Safety Protections

• 📢 Human Rights Watch urges Saudi authorities to implement basic safety protections for the migrant workforce.
• 🏠 The construction efforts include 11 new stadiums, a rail network, and 185,000 hotel rooms for the 2034 event.

Concerns and Precedents

• 📜 Saudi Arabia was awarded the World Cup hosting rights in December, despite existing concerns about its human rights record and treatment of migrant laborers.
• 🇶🇦 Similar concerns were raised before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where thousands of migrant worker deaths were estimated, though official figures were much lower.