Rights groups say migrant workers dying on Saudi job sites as kingdom prepares for World Cup
Live Events
You Might Also Like:
Trump lavishes praise on Saudi crown prince, signaling renewed alliance
You Might Also Like:
US crude oil climbs more than $1 on Saudi investment
Scores of labourers from countries including India, Bangladesh and Nepal have faced preventable deaths from electrocution, road accidents, falling from heights, and more while working in Saudi Arabia , according to a report Wednesday by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch and another rights group, FairSquare, released separate investigations Wednesday detailing preventable deaths of migrant workers from job-site accidents and work-related illnesses.The reports accuse Saudi authorities of often misreporting such deaths and failing to investigate, preventing families from receiving compensation from the kingdom that they are entitled to and knowing how their loved ones died.As Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure and development initiatives - including the 2034 men's soccer World Cup and the futuristic city Neom - rights groups warn of thousands more avoidable deaths in the coming years.In one case, Human Rights Watch said a Bangladeshi worker was electrocuted on the job. But his employer allegedly withheld the body, telling the family they would be compensated only if they agreed to a local burial.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)Another family reported waiting nearly 15 years before they were compensated by the Saudi government."It's very urgent that the Saudi authorities and FIFA put in place basic labour rights protections," Minky Worden, Human Rights Watch's director of global initiatives, told The Associated Press, referring to soccer's world governing body.Authorities in Saudi Arabia did not respond to a request for comment.FairSquare, which looked into the deaths of 17 Nepali contractors in Saudi Arabia over the last 18 months, warned in its report that without accountability, "thousands of unexplained deaths" of low-paid foreign workers are likely to follow."In some cases, you have families being pursued by money lenders for the loans that their (dead) husband or father took out in order to migrate to the Gulf," said James Lynch, who co-directs FairSquare.Saudi Arabia has long faced allegations of labour abuses and wage theft tied to its Vision 2030 project, a big-money effort to diversify its economy beyond dependence on oil.FIFA shared with the AP a letter it sent Human Rights Watch last month defending the selection of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup.The letter cited the Saudis' commitments to establishing "a workers' welfare system" and enhancing "country-wide labour protections including through a strengthened collaboration" with the United Nations' International Labour Organisation.The kingdom is not the only Gulf Arab state to be accused of abusing migrant labourers in the run-up to a World Cup. Rights groups also criticised Qatar , which hosted the competition in 2022, saying they tallied thousands of unexplained worker deaths.But this time has the potential to be even worse for foreign workers, Worden said, noting that the 2034 World Cup has plans to require more stadiums and infrastructure with more teams competing.Qatar established an oversight board called the Supreme Committee, which monitored FIFA construction sites and took reports of unsafe work conditions."There's no such committee like that in Saudi Arabia," Worden said, adding, "In the end, Qatar did have concrete policies like life insurance and heat protection. Those aren't in place now" in Saudi Arabia.The details of the investigations from Human Rights Watch and FairSquare come a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined US President Donald Trump on his official visit to Saudi Arabia, where Trump met with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Order Will Be Restored, Los Angeles Will Be Set Free: Donald Trump
United States President Donald Trump promised that "order will be restored" and "Los Angeles will be set free". He has directed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to "take all action necessary" to "liberate Los Angeles from the migrant invasion" and end the "Migrant riots". The protests erupted after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids across the city, arresting dozens of undocumented immigrants. Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order during the demonstrations. "A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now, violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations, but these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve," Trump wrote on his 'Truth Social' account. "I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!," he added. Earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed confidence in the city's ability to manage ongoing protests without the need for President Donald Trump's National Guard troops, as per CNN. "I do not believe that is called for because I am confident that LAPD [Los Angeles Police Department] and other law enforcement agencies like the sheriffs can handle things in Los Angeles," Bass said in response to a decision by President Donald Trump to send 2,000 National Guardsmen to the city. Since Bass made those comments, about 300 troops have arrived in three locations across the city, CNN reported, citing the Mayor's statement to ABC7. The Democratic mayor was also asked to respond to Trump's claim that he had to intervene because neither she nor Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was capable of stopping the protests on their own. "I certainly reject the notion that neither the governor or I can do our jobs -- we've been in close collaboration and having said that -- I've also been in close communication and collaboration with representatives in the White House so I reject that notion and feel that we can be in charge and deal with what has happened here," she said. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the federal response, calling it "purposefully inflammatory" and warning that such deployments would erode public trust. "Donald Trump's chaos is eroding trust, tearing families apart, and undermining the workers and industries that power America's economy," Newsom said.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
They spit, we hit: Trump warns protesters as LA demonstrations turn violent
US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned protesters in Los Angeles that there would be strong consequences if they spit on police officers or soldiers. His warning came hours after he sent National Guard troops to the city in response to protests over immigration to reporters in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, Trump defended his decision to deploy at least 2,000 National Guard members. The protests in Los Angeles began after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids..@POTUS on the LA riots: "They spit, we hit." Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 8, 2025advertisement"When they spit at people — you know, they spit, that's their new thing," Trump said. "They spit and worse. You know what they throw at 'em, right? And when that happens, I have a little statement: 'They spit, we hit!' And I told them — nobody's going to spit on our police officers. Nobody's gonna spit on military. Which they do as a common thing. They get up to them this far away, and then they start spitting in their faces. If that happens, they get hit very hard."PROTESTERS CLASH WITH TROOPS The protests in Los Angeles turned chaotic after a group of demonstrators marched from Mariachi Plaza to a federal immigration detention center in downtown LA. They chanted slogans like "ICE out of LA."The situation escalated when National Guard troops fired tear gas and pepper balls without giving a warning, according to reports. Videos from the scene showed clouds of tear gas filling the Los Angeles Police Department said it arrested 27 people on Saturday for not leaving the area when ordered. Police spokesperson Norma Eisenman confirmed the arrests but said she couldn't comment on whether officers used "less lethal force."POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIONWhile US Vice President JD Vance referred to the protesters as "insurrectionists" and senior White House aide Stephen Miller described the protests as a "violent insurrection."However, Trump hasn't used the Insurrection Act -- a 1807 law that allows the president to send the US military to handle civil unrest. When asked if he planned to invoke it, Trump said, "It depends on whether there's an insurrection. You really just have to look at the site. You have to see what's happening. Last night in Los Angeles, we watched it very closely. There was a lot of violence there. It could have gotten much worse."Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also warned that if the violence continues, active-duty troops could be sent in. "The Marines at Camp Pendleton are on high alert," he inputs from ReutersTune InMust Watch
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump's LA crackdown: Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed; protesters flood streets
Federal troops are now patrolling parts of Los Angeles after President Donald Trump authorised the deployment of the National Guard, declaring that 'violent, insurrectionist mobs' were attacking federal agents in an effort to halt ongoing deportation operations. The move has sparked fierce political backlash and led to violent confrontations in the streets. 'This is a migrant invasion,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, accusing protesters of trying to obstruct federal law enforcement. 'These lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.' The President confirmed he had ordered Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi to do 'all such action necessary' to secure Los Angeles and continue deportations. Despite the escalating situation, Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, though he has hinted he may consider broader military intervention if unrest spreads. 'We're not going to let this happen to our country,' he told reporters. 'We're going to have troops everywhere.' California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the deployment as a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and urged federal officials to withdraw the Guard immediately. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Clashes erupt outside federal detention centre Tensions boiled over on Sunday in downtown Los Angeles as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where detainees from recent immigration raids were being held. Protesters chanted 'shame' and 'go home' at National Guard troops stationed outside, while law enforcement fired tear gas, smoke canisters and rubber bullets to clear the streets. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the demonstration an 'unlawful assembly' and authorised the use of 'less lethal munitions' to disperse the crowd. Protesters later blocked traffic on the 101 freeway in response. A helicopter circling above the protest issued warnings to disperse, while social media updates from LAPD Central Division warned that anyone remaining risked arrest. Governor Newsom decries 'inflammatory' federal action Governor Newsom has requested the return of control over the Guard, arguing in a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that local authorities were better positioned to manage the situation. 'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom said. 'The decision to deploy the National Guard without appropriate training or orders risks seriously escalating the situation.' He also accused the administration of trying to 'inflame tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed.' Several Democratic governors issued a joint statement condemning Trump's move as 'an alarming abuse of power,' echoing Newsom's call to restore local authority. Federal agents and Guard confront protesters in Paramount Clashes also occurred on Saturday in Paramount, a predominantly Latino city south of Los Angeles, as protesters confronted agents near ICE offices. Demonstrators reportedly threw rocks and cement chunks at law enforcement vehicles. A federal officer was injured, and the FBI has offered a \$50,000 reward for information on the suspect. In response, federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls and flash-bangs to disperse the crowd. Trump threatens wider crackdown Trump told reporters that California officials who attempt to block deportations could face criminal charges. 'If officials stay in the way of law and order, yeah, they will face charges,' he said. The President also suggested the deployment of additional troops, including active-duty Marines, if violence continues. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed this stance, warning of further escalation if the unrest persists. Divided political response The deployment has sharply divided political leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the President's move, blaming Newsom for failing to control protests. 'Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or an unwillingness to do what is necessary, so the president stepped in,' he said. By contrast, Senator Bernie Sanders accused Trump of 'moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism' and warned of an erosion of Congressional authority. Mexican President defends migrants Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a strong defence of her citizens living in the US, saying, 'They migrate out of necessity… they are not criminals.' She promised support to any migrants wishing to return home and insisted that 'human rights must always be respected.'
