By Michael Oche
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has expressed grave concerns over Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, amidst allegations of the Kingdom’s long-standing exploitation and human rights abuses against African migrant workers.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Dr. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the ITUC-Africa urged CAF to demand that Saudi Arabia address these human rights issues before FIFA finalizes its decision on the World Cup hosting rights.
The letter, signed by ITUC-Africa’s General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, cited various instances of exploitation and abuse, including forced labour, physical and verbal harassment, and the notorious kafala system, which has been criticized globally for enabling the abuse of migrant workers.
With the World Cup vote set for December 2024, ITUC-Africa which represents 18 million workers across 52 African countries, urged CAF to compel FIFA to take a firm stance, ensuring that rights of migrant workers are protected m
The organisation, while acknowledging FIFA’s Human Rights Policy, stressed that allowing Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup without significant labour reforms would tarnish the sport’s reputation.
The letter made six key recommendations, including the abolition of the kafala system, enforcement of labour laws, and independent monitoring of workers’ treatment.
ITUC-Africa said FIFA should make Saudi Arabia’s commitment to human rights a central criterion for its bid, requiring concrete actions and timelines for improving the rights and conditions of migrant workers.
“FIFA should require Saudi Arabia to provide regular reports on the progress of labour reforms and the treatment of workers, ensuring transparency and accountability in addressing human rights concerns,” it said
The letter reads in part, “Mr. President, as you might be aware, Saudi Arabia has long faced criticism for its treatment of migrant workers, who endure severe exploitation and abuse. Reports indicate instances of forced labour, passport confiscation, excessively long working hours without rest, physical and verbal abuse, and restrictions on freedom of movement and communication.
“Such practices violate international labour standards, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour, which Saudi Arabia ratified in 1978. The Global Slavery Index 2023 by Walk Free highlights Saudi Arabia’s high prevalence of modern slavery in the Arab States region, driven by economic practices and systemic discrimination that perpetuate forced labour conditions.
“Saudi Arabia still practices the Kafala System. The kafala system, a sponsorship-based employment framework in Saudi Arabia, binds migrant workers to their employers, granting the latter extensive control over workers’ legal status and employment conditions. This system has facilitated numerous abuses, including severe restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement, ability to change jobs, passport confiscation, denial of wages, and threats of deportation, effectively trapping workers in exploitative situations. Despite recent reforms, the kafala system continues to expose workers to forced labour and severe human rights violations. It is a widely held view that the Kafala system in place in Saudi Arabia encourages, perpetrates and sustains modern slavery practices.
“In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, migrant workers, especially Africans, are given the most crude and brutal human treatment. Exposure of African migrant workers to all manner of discrimination, hate, extremist and racist treatment by their Saudi Arabian employers seems normal. Women workers endure the worst of the treatments, including sexual, verbal and physical harassment and violence. African migrant workers in Saudi Arabia face regular threats to stay silent and not demand their rights. To do otherwise, these affected workers face dire consequences of further maltreatment. An African migrant worker who refused forced silence on account of wage delay, denial and theft suffered a brutal and fatal end as she was set ablaze to serve as a deterrent to others.”
“Mr. President, to ameliorate the poor human and workers’ rights track record, ITUC Africa recommends the following: Comprehensive Labour Reforms: CAF and FIFA should demand that Saudi Arabia implements comprehensive, inclusive and collaborative labour reforms, including the abolition of the kafala system, to protect migrant workers’ rights.
“Enforcement of Labour Laws: CAF and FIFA should ensure that Saudi Arabia enforces its labour laws and provides adequate protections for all workers, including fair wages, reasonable working hours, and safe working conditions; Independent Monitoring: FIFA should require the establishing an independent monitoring body to oversee the treatment of workers involved in World Cup preparations and operations and ensure compliance with international labour standards.