"What can international solidarity do for migrant workers' rights in Saudi Arabia?"

Behind Saudi Arabia’s large-scale projects aimed at polishing its image in the eyes of the international community, be it the Asian Cup of Nations in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the FIFA World Cup in 2034 or the NEOM futuristic city project, lies a much bleaker reality: thousands of migrant workers in the country are victims of human rights violations and unrelenting discrimination.

“It is up to the workers to unite before it is too late. As long as the workers abroad can complain, write letters, join a union… they must do so, and not remain silent,” says Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy for ALQST, a not-for-profit organisation defending human rights in Saudi Arabia, speaking to Equal Times...

The international community has a crucial role to play in putting pressure not only on the Saudi authorities but also on the Western businesses and institutions involved in the various projects announced by the Saudi kingdom...

The first step, [executive secretary of the Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) Hind Ben Ammar] argues, should be taken by the trade unions in the countries that send their nationals to Saudi Arabia, such as Somalia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: “The Saudis need these workers [...]. Our trade unions there should play a role at national level. They should not accept labour agreements that do not meet the minimum conditions for decent work, and they should not agree to their own nationals going to work in Saudi Arabia without protection,” she explains...

Together with ALQST, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) monitors and reports on potential or future investors in projects in Saudi Arabia. It checks whether these investors have fulfilled the due diligence obligations, which French companies, for example, are subject to under French law no. 2017-399. This non-binding legislation “does not say that it is forbidden to commit violations. It says: ‘you must report on the measures you are taking to avoid participating in violations’”, explains Antoine Madelin, international advocacy director at the FIDH.

He explains that “companies are nonetheless increasingly conscious, given the risk, albeit minimal, of criminal prosecution. And we’re seizing on that to make headway and engage with them about what initiatives they’re taking [to improve working conditions], so that we can look into whether they’re credible and relevant or just window dressing.”...