Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia Face Deadly Workplace Hazards and Denied Justice
Scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to die in avoidable workplace accidents, including falls from buildings, electrocutions, and decapitations, amid systemic failures to protect them, investigate deaths, and provide compensation, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Fairsquare.
Many migrant deaths are incorrectly recorded as “natural causes,” which prevents families from receiving rightful compensation. Official data from Indian, Bangladeshi, and Nepali embassies show that 68-80% of recorded migrant deaths are classified this way, despite eyewitness accounts suggesting workplace accidents.
The construction industry, especially linked to Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other mega-projects, is particularly dangerous. Workers face hazardous conditions without adequate safety gear or training. Employers sometimes pressure families to bury deceased workers in Saudi Arabia, offering financial incentives, while refusing to cover repatriation costs or unpaid wages.
Saudi law requires employers with 50 or more workers to maintain health and safety policies and provide protective equipment, but enforcement is weak. Compensation through the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) exists but is difficult to access, with families waiting years for payments.
HRW interviewed families of 31 deceased migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, revealing harrowing stories: one worker fell from the fifth floor after his safety belt failed; another was decapitated by machinery; others died from electrocution or falling debris. Many families have not received adequate compensation or support.
FIFA has awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring robust protections for migrant workers, including mandatory life insurance and heat-related safety measures. HRW calls on FIFA, Saudi authorities, and employers to thoroughly investigate all migrant deaths, ensure fair compensation, and treat families with dignity.
The failure to address these issues risks repeating human rights abuses seen in previous tournaments and large-scale projects, leaving migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation and fatal accidents.
