The report Migrant workers powering Saudi Arabia’s energy transition was published today (2 October 2025) and features testimony from 34 workers, including from Nepal and Bangladesh, employed at nine renewable energy projects in the Gulf State.

It said: “Migrant workers interviewed for this report allege a range of severe and unacceptable labour rights violations on renewable projects in Saudi Arabia.

“These abuses create conditions of alarming dehumanisation, where workers are treated as ‘machines’, not humans, and are denied basic human rights.”

The projects assessed in the report include the Neom Green Hydrogen Project, as well as the Al Kahfah Solar PV Project, the Sudair Solar PV Project, the Muwayh Solar PV Project and Saad 2 Solar PV Project.

It found that, while “Saudi Arabia is home to both excellent resources for renewable energy expansion and a state-level commitment to rapidly capitalising on these”, migrant workers delivering the project have faced abuse…

The report said one worker at the Neom Green Hydrogen Project died from a suspected heart attack after heat exposure. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre interviewed five workers at the project.

One of them – a Nepali worker – told the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: “A dust storm was blowing, and work should have been stopped…