Human Rights Watch has raised warnings about potential labor abuses tied to Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup, citing serious human rights violations and insufficient protections for migrant workers. With concerns over FIFA’s disregard for these abuses, the organization calls for meaningful assessments and commitments before confirming Saudi Arabia as host.
As the buzz surrounding the potential hosting of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia grows louder, so too does the outcry from human rights advocates. Following a wave of condemnation from various rights groups, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a dire warning about the risks of widespread labor abuses associated with this monumental event. Minky Worden, HRW’s director of global initiatives, emphasized the stark oversight in Saudi Arabia’s World Cup hosting documents, which neglect to mention the country’s severe human rights violations. Among these violations are dangerous working conditions, rampant wage theft, and a lack of labor rights, compounded by the oppressive kafala system, which strips many workers of their basic rights and dignity. Worden argues that FIFA has chosen to ignore this reality, leading to a future likely fraught with humanitarian crises during the preparations leading up to the tournament. Earlier this year, eleven human rights organizations criticized a legal assessment by Clifford Chance, labeling it deeply flawed. They stressed that the assessment wilfully left out key human rights concerns anchored in international treaties. “Not a single migrant worker, victim of human rights crimes, torture survivor, jailed women’s rights advocate, or Saudi civil society member was consulted for FIFA’s supposedly independent report,” Worden asserted, indicating the unilateral approach taken by FIFA and Saudi Arabia. The warnings from HRW are vivid: the immense labor force—predominantly migrant workers—are expected to carry the heavy burdens of constructing new stadiums and infrastructure, mirroring the exploitative labor conditions seen during Qatar’s 2022 World Cup preparations. HRW notes that despite the essential role these workers will play, the Saudi government’s bid documentation conspicuously fails to secure proper protections and rights for them. Moreover, FIFA risks breaching its own regulations unless it insists on comprehensive human rights diligence and commitments from Saudi authorities before moving ahead with the impending vote to finalize the host city for the 2034 World Cup. Worden firmly stated that FIFA should only proceed with the vote if it is assured of proper human rights protections for those who will make the event possible.
The topic of FIFA and its decision-making regarding World Cup hosts has become increasingly scrutinized, especially concerning nations with poor human rights records. Saudi Arabia, known for its controversial treatment of labor rights and human rights generally, stands on the precipice of hosting a prestigious global event. This article delves into the concerns raised by Human Rights Watch regarding the labor conditions that are likely to prevail in a nation that has often been criticized for its human rights abuses. The lens is sharply focused on the assurance—or lack thereof—of rights and protections for the numerous migrant workers expected to undertake the mammoth infrastructure projects.
The alarm raised by Human Rights Watch regarding FIFA’s side-stepping of Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations is a pivotal moment as the 2034 World Cup looms on the horizon. With warnings of a repeat of past labor abuses in a potentially exploitative environment, the call for FIFA to enforce human rights protections is clear. As the global football community awaits a decision, the stakes have never been higher for migrant workers and their rights.
Original Source: www.insideworldfootball.com