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Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Trade unions from 36 countries protest against Saudi Arabia's treatment of migrant workers
Trade unions from 36 countries have filed a complaint with the International Labour Organization (ILO) over the treatment of migrant labourers in Saudi Arabia, The Guardian has reported. The joint submission called for a 'commission of inquiry' into labour rights in the kingdom - one of the most important tools available to the UN agency. 'This is a call for immediate action towards genuine, inclusive and collaborative reform,' said Luc Triangle, the secretary-general of the International Trade Union Confederation. 'We cannot tolerate another death of a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia. We cannot remain silent while migrant workers, especially construction and domestic workers, continue to face fundamental rights violations. This has to stop now.' The complaint comes as development and construction ramp up in Saudi Arabia ahead of its hosting the 2034 Fifa World Cup. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters This week, the kingdom signed a cooperation agreement with the ILO on the sidelines of its annual conference in Geneva. Under the agreement, which initially lasts for two years, Riyadh is expected to align its labour laws with international standards. The agreement reportedly includes measures to support fair recruitment, make it easier for labourers to switch jobs, introduce a minimum wage and include migrant workers on workers' representative committees. It also includes commitments to improve compensation for workers who are injured or killed. However, trade unionists from several delegations think the reforms did not go far enough. Unions from the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and 13 African countries were among those to sign the complaint, which was fiercely opposed by the Saudis. 'Africans go to Saudi Arabia looking for life but come back in coffins,' said Omar Osman, the general secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions and one of the signatories. The complaint, seen by The Guardian, lists several cases of alleged forced labour, human trafficking, wage theft, and sexual and physical abuse of migrant labourers. Migrant worker deaths Last month, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia had died in horrific, avoidable workplace incidents - including falls from buildings, electrocutions and decapitations. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on foreign labour to power its economy. Of a population of around 34 million, over 13 million are migrants, primarily from South and Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. These workers dominate sectors such as construction, domestic work, sanitation and hospitality - often performing some of the most dangerous and low-paid jobs in the country. 'Electrocuted, decapitated': Migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia revealed in HRW report Read More » Despite existing Saudi laws mandating occupational safety measures and employer accountability, the HRW report revealed systemic failures in protecting workers, investigating deaths and ensuring compensation. The report also documented disturbing patterns of deaths being misclassified as 'natural causes', even in cases where the fatal injuries occurred on worksites. HRW interviewed the families of 31 deceased workers, mostly from Bangladesh, India and Nepal, who died in Saudi Arabia between the ages of 23 and 52. In several cases, families reported they were left in the dark about the cause and circumstances of their relatives' deaths. Employers often delayed or refused to repatriate remains and personal belongings and, in some cases, pressured families to accept burial in Saudi Arabia in exchange for modest financial compensation. In one case, the son of a Bangladeshi man who died of electrocution said the employer made compensation conditional on agreeing to bury his father in Saudi Arabia. The family refused and had to borrow over $4,000 to repatriate the body, only to receive less compensation than their incurred debt. Most migrant workers enter Saudi Arabia under the kafala sponsorship system, which legally binds a worker's immigration status to a specific employer. Despite recent reforms that allowed some workers to change jobs without employer consent, many are still vulnerable to exploitation, forced labour, wage theft and harsh working conditions. A New York Times report in March found that at least 274 Kenyan workers, most of whom were women, had died in Saudi Arabia over the past five years despite being a young workforce in non-dangerous jobs. Large numbers of Ugandan workers had also died in the Gulf kingdom during that time. Every year, thousands of Ugandan and Kenyan women travel to Saudi Arabia to take up domestic jobs such as housekeepers and nannies. Many return with stories of unpaid wages, detention, beatings, starvation and sexual assault. Others return in coffins. Among those who died, autopsies often revealed evidence of trauma such as burns and electric shocks. However, Saudi authorities recorded the deaths as natural causes.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Unions from 36 countries protest over treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia
Trade unions from 36 countries have filed a complaint with the International Labour Organisation over the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. The complaint calls for a 'commission of inquiry' into labour rights in the country, one of the most powerful tools available to the ILO, a United Nations agency. The demand comes amid growing concern that not enough is being done to improve the conditions of workers as development begins to scale up before the Fifa World Cup, due to take place in the Gulf state in 2034. Luc Triangle, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said the 'scale and severity' of the issues in Saudi Arabia demanded the strongest response. 'This is a call for immediate action towards genuine, inclusive and collaborative reform,' he said. 'We cannot tolerate another death of a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia. We cannot remain silent while migrant workers, especially construction and domestic workers continue to face fundamental rights violations. This has to stop now.' The news comes on the day the ILO announced a new cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, signed on the sidelines of its key annual gathering, the International Labour Conference, held in Geneva this week. Under the initial two-year agreement Saudi Arabia is expected to begin to align its laws with international labour standards. Human rights groups and trade unions have repeatedly warned that the World Cup, and other major projects, could be tarnished by abusive conditions endured by migrant workers in constructing the necessary infrastructure. These concerns include extortionate recruitment fees, non-payment of wages, false contracts, passport confiscation and exposure to extreme heat. Thousands of workers could be likely to die as construction ramps up, the rights group FairSquare claimed last month. The number of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia has surged in recent years to more than 13 million, driven in part by a massive construction boom linked to the World Cup and so-called giga-projects. The Guardian understands that Saudi Arabia's agreement with the ILO includes proposals for new measures to support fair recruitment and make it easier for workers to change jobs, the introduction of a minimum wage and the inclusion of migrant workers on workers' representative committees. Trade unions remain prohibited in the country. The agreement also sets out commitments to improve the compensation system for workers who are injured or killed. In the longer term, it promises to strengthen protections for domestic workers, who have been excluded from key provisions of the labour law. The planned reforms have failed to satisfy trade union delegates. Trade unions from the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and 13 African countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal pushed through the complaint, despite fierce opposition from the Saudis. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion The complaint, which the Guardian has seen, lists dozens of cases of alleged human trafficking, forced labour, wage theft and physical and sexual abuse of migrant workers. 'Africans go to Saudi Arabia looking for life but come back in coffins,' said Omar Osman, the general secretary of the federation of Somali trade unions and one of the signatories. The complaint follows submissions made this year by the Building and Woodworkers International to the ILO over migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, and African trade unions raised with Fifa concerns over the treatment of workers. Fifa says the human rights policy submitted as part of Saudi Arabia's bid for the World Cup commits the country to embedding ILO standards as part of the 2034 process. In a letter to Human Rights Watch in April, the secretary general of Fifa, Mattias Grafström, wrote that 'the work to implement the measures outlined in the bid strategy has started and is a priority for Fifa'. The trade union complaint is understood to acknowledge that this dialogue has begun. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia was approached for comment.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Workers' Rights Collapse Across The World: ITUC Global Rights Index 2025
Workers' rights are in free fall across every continent, according to the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index, with Europe and the Americas recording their worst scores since the Index began in 2014. Just seven countries now have the top rating of 1 for their respect for workers' rights, compared with 51, or one in three, rated 5 and 5+. If the current trend continues, no countries will hold a rating of 1 within the next ten years. Key findings include: Three out of five global regions saw conditions worsen; the Americas (3.68) and Europe (2.78) hit their worst scores on record. Europe continued a rapid deterioration from 1.84 in 2014 – the biggest decline seen in any region worldwide over the past 10 years. Only seven out of the 151 countries surveyed (fewer than 5%) earned a top-tier rating of 1 – down from 18 a decade ago. The 10 worst countries for workers are: Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Myanmar, Nigeria (NEW), the Philippines, Tunisia, and Türkiye. The worst region in the world for working people is the Middle East and North Africa, with an average rating of 68. Deaths of trade unionists were recorded in Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and South Africa. 87% of countries violated the right to strike; 80% violated the right to collective bargaining. Workers' access to justice was restricted in 72% of countries, the worst level ever recorded. ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: 'The 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index exposes the outcomes of the betrayal of the system built after World War Two, founded on democracy, trade union rights and justice. Governments have collaborated in decades of deregulation, neoliberalism, and neglect, leading to the collapse of workers' rights. This has disenfranchised millions and paved the way for extremism, authoritarianism and the billionaire coup against democracy that now threatens democracy itself. 'If this pace of decline continues, in ten years there will be no country left in the world with the highest rating for its respect for workers' rights. This is a global scandal, but it is not unavoidable; it is a deliberate decision that can be reversed. 'That is why the ITUC is exposing the coordinated attack by the ultra-rich and their political allies to rig economies against working people. It is not inevitable that workers' rights will worsen in the 2026 Rights Index. 'Together, through strong, independent unions and a democracy that delivers for all, we can reclaim power, rebuild economies that serve people, not corporations, and demand international institutions that are accountable to those they were created to protect. Our movement is fighting every day for this future — and next year's Index must show the beginning of real change.' Other key findings: In 12 countries, conditions have deteriorated so severely, due to conflict and the corresponding collapse of the rule of law, that they now hold the lowest-possible rating of 5+. These countries are Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Haiti, Libya, Myanmar, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen. Only three countries have seen their rating improve in 2025: Australia (2), Mexico (3) and Oman (3). Seven countries have worse ratings: Argentina (4), Costa Rica (4), Georgia (4), Italy (2), Mauritania (5), Niger (4), Panama (4). 75% of countries excluded workers from the right to establish or join a trade union. 74% of countries impeded the registration of unions. 45% of countries restricted free speech and assembly. Workers were arrested and detained in 71 countries. Workers experienced violence in 40 countries. The 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index is being released on 2 June to coincide with the start of the International Labour Conference (ILC) at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland: the world's parliament for work. ITUC priorities at the ILC include tackling rights violations through the Committee on the Application of Standards and the implementation of Article 33 measures concerning Myanmar, advancing protections in the platform economy, addressing biological hazards at work, and promoting innovative pathways to formalising informal work. The violations exposed in the 2025 Index will contribute this work. The ILC will include a special session on the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index at 13:30 CEST on 10 June that will include testimonies from trade union representatives from some of the worst countries in the world for working people, as well as remarks from Luc Triangle, ITUC General Secretary, and Paapa Danquah, ITUC Legal Director. The ITUC Global Rights Index is a comprehensive review of workers' rights in law ranking 151 countries against a list of 97 indicators derived from ILO Conventions and jurisprudence, and as such is the only database of its kind. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Workers' rights in ‘free fall' globally: Report
In total, 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike and 80 per cent violated the right to collective bargaining, the ITUC said. PHOTO: REUTERS PARIS - Workers' rights around the world are 'in free fall', with widespread attempts to hamstring collective bargaining and attacks on trade union representatives, the world's largest trade union organisation said on June 2. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) found a 'profound deterioration' in workers' rights in its annual rights index published on June 2, based on 97 indicators laid out by the United Nations and international treaties. Workers' rights, which the report measured in 151 countries, particularly declined in Europe and the Americas – with the worst results for the two regions since the index was launched in 2014. In total, 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike and 80 per cent violated the right to collective bargaining, the ITUC said. 'The right to collective bargaining was restricted in 80 per cent of countries (121),' the ITUC said. In France, for example, 'nearly four in every 10 collective agreements were imposed unilaterally by employers, without union representation'. The report also said outlined 'persecution' against union leaders. 'In France, more than 1,000 union leaders and members of the Confederation generale du travail (CGT) were facing criminal charges and disciplinary measures for their roles in mass protests against pension reforms,' it said. The ITUC gives each country a maximum score of one and a minimum score of five for their respect for workers' rights, such as the right to strike, demonstrate and participate in negotiations. Only seven countries – including Germany, Sweden and Norway – were awarded the maximum score, compared to 18 a decade ago. Italy and Argentina saw their scores drop in 2025. 'If this pace of decline continues, in ten years there will be no country left in the world with the highest rating for its respect for workers' rights,' ITUC head Luc Triangle said in a statement. In 2025, Europe experienced the sharpest decline of any region in the world over the past 10 years. The ITUC also said trade unionists or workers were killed in five countries in 2025: South Africa, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru. And Nigeria joined the list of the 10 worst countries for workers' rights for the first time. Only a handful of countries saw an improvement in workers' rights. Reforms strengthened trade union rights in Australia, while in Mexico, labour law changes improved access to justice for workers. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
The Greatest Threat To Democracy In 80 Years: Stop The Billionaire Coup
This 8 May, we remember a pivotal moment in human history: working people were at the forefront of the defeat of fascism in 1945, writes ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle. What came next was just as important. Workers and their trade unions shaped a new world order based on democracy, human and trade union rights, and justice. But now, in 2025, once again we are called upon to defend democracy against an existential threat. This time, it comes from a number of internationally-networked, far-right billionaires and politicians who seek to seize control of global affairs no matter the cost to society at large. The billionaire coup At the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), representing 200 million workers in 169 countries and territories, we see the danger clearly. An alliance of tech elites, corporate giants and far-right political forces is advancing what can only be described as a billionaire coup against democracy. These extraordinarily wealthy few are pursuing a shared objective to exploit economic despair caused by decades of austerity politics, dismantle hard-won rights and assault democratic institutions that were painstakingly built to serve the common good. Their goal is clear: to shift power away from the people and entrench it permanently in the hands of a global oligarchy. They act through political capture, corporate lobbying and disinformation campaigns, tearing apart the social contract upon which democracy stands. If they succeed, the consequences for workers, communities and the planet, will be catastrophic. The ITUC has sounded the alarm in an open letter to heads of state, governments and international institutions. Our message is simple: the time for half-measures is over. We must stop the billionaire coup and take back democracy through a new social contract written for working people, by working people. The solution This New Social Contract is not a dream; it is a necessity. It is also a framework democratically adopted by trade unions around the world in 2022. Now in 2025, we are drawing attention to ten of its concrete demands. These ten policy areas are those which the billionaire coup is working rapidly to undermine and thus which must most urgently be addressed: Universal fair taxation. For decades, governments have allowed the richest individuals and corporations to avoid paying their fair share. It is time for the fair taxation of wealth and capital, the closure of corporate tax loopholes, and a binding United Nations Framework Convention on Tax to ensure multinational corporations pay taxes where they earn their profits. Regulation for corporations, not for individual lives. Deregulation has handed power to unelected corporate actors while stripping rights from workers, women, migrants and minorities. Mandatory due diligence, binding instruments on supply chains and stronger regulation of corporate lobbying are essential to restore balance. Public, good quality education for all children. Education is a right, not a commodity. Governments must reverse austerity, invest in public education, and ensure fair conditions for teachers and students alike. Public services for the people, not for profit. Privatisation has eroded essential services, deepening inequality. Privatisation must end and be replaced by a massive reinvestment in public infrastructure to rebuild trust and prosperity. Healthcare, retirement and social protections. This is a human right, yet billions lack even basic social protection coverage. Governments must expand funding, restore benefits and support health and care workers with fair wages and decent conditions. Living wages and workplace democracy for all. Stagnant wages and soaring corporate profits have deepened poverty and injustice. It is time for governments to guarantee living minimum wages, strengthen collective bargaining and protect union rights. Climate action with a Just Transition. Workers are facing the horror of climate chaos while elites plan to escape its consequences. We need binding climate plans that include commitments to quality jobs, strong labour rights and the direct involvement of workers unions. Freedom and equality for all. Billionaire-backed far-right forces are fuelling a backlash against women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people and marginalised communities. Governments must fully implement international commitments like ILO Convention 190, enforce protections, and fund inclusive policies. Peace not war. Militarism diverts resources away from people's true needs. A peaceful future demands disarmament to fund reinvestment in social services, and a partnership with workers' unions to rebuild democratic societies. Migration and justice. Corporations move freely across borders to maximise profits, while migrants face violence, detention and criminalisation. Migrants are workers, not criminals. Safe, legal migration pathways, equal treatment and the right to organise are essential pillars of democratic societies. Much of the post-war system of multilateralism has been hollowed out. Mainstream political parties have collaborated with the agenda of deregulation, neoliberalism and neglect – leaving vast swathes of people disillusioned and disenfranchised, and creating a vacuum eagerly filled by far-right extremists and billionaires alike. But collapse is not inevitable. There is an alternative. Together, we can imagine and build a future where power is shared, not hoarded; where economies serve people, not corporations; and where international institutions are accountable to those they are meant to serve. As we honour the sacrifices of those who defeated fascism, we must summon the same courage and solidarity to resist and defeat the billionaire coup, and forge a democratic renewal. The workers of the world are taking urgent action. Governments and institutions must do the same — before it is too late.
