Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Abdullah Abuthnain, represented the Kingdom at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) labor session in Baku on September 23–24. Saudi Arabia brought attention to its “efforts for youth empowerment, social security, and digitalization” across the Islamic world. But behind this façade of liberal-sounding rhetoric is an entirely sinister reality for millions of workers within the Kingdom.
This gap between global reputation and internal practice is at the heart of why awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 FIFA World Cup is not only folly, but also perilous. The globe has to say no to sportswashing, stand up for worker justice, and demand accountability before permitting international stages to legitimize regimes with abysmal records on human rights.
The OIC Meeting: White Washing Reality
Abuthnain’s addresses to ministers and high-ranking officials during the OIC gathering focused on “cooperation,” “innovative labor policy,” and “sustainable development.” He depicted Saudi Arabia as a nation that is adopting contemporary labor reforms to serve youth throughout the Islamic world.
However, this sort of diplomatic gamesmanship conceals the Kingdom’s shortcomings in defending labor rights — particularly for migrant workers who drive much of its economy. That disconnect between rhetoric and reality is exactly what opponents of the 2034 World Cup need to emphasize.
The Dark Reality: Labor Abuses, Deaths, and Systemic Exploitation
Beneath the Saudi Arabia speeches on progress is a sinister truth of exploitation, forced labor, and entrenched abuse. These are not individual cases — they are structural issues that characterize the Kingdom’s labor market and will directly impact any workers working in the 2034 World Cup.
1. Migrant Workers Are Systemically Vulnerable
Migrants make up a huge proportion of Saudi’s workforce. Under the Kafala (sponsorship) system, workers are tied to their employers, often barred from changing jobs, and frequently coerced by threats of visa cancellation or deportation.
- Reports confirm widespread abuse, including illegal recruitment fees, wage withholding, passport confiscation, and coercion.
- More than 21,000 migrant workers are estimated to have been killed in Saudi Arabia since construction started on its giant projects — an average of over 8 fatalities per day for decades.
2. Workplace Safety & Health Hazards
- A recent survey in the Al-Qassim area reported that 21.5% of migrant workers experienced at least one occupational injury, such as cuts, falls, or heat injuries.
- Numerous workers also indicated inconsistent or non-existent adherence to protective equipment and security training.
3. Ongoing Forced Labour & Modern Slavery
- Estimates by the Global Slavery Index place approximately 740,000 individuals in Saudi Arabia in modern slavery situations, the largest percentage among Arab States.
- Returned migrant worker surveys identified that 15% had been victims of forced labor.
International watchdogs continue to cite failures in victim protection, lack of accountability, and absence of independent worker representation.
4. Labour Rights Fail in the “Bid Book”
Human rights groups reviewing Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid concluded it fails to meet FIFA’s own human rights requirements.
The bid does not guarantee meaningful reform of the exploitative work system and does not protect unions or migrant workers.
Legal analyses ordered for the tender have also come under fire for closing their eyes to proof of abuse and glossing over working conditions.
5. Scale & Stakes Are Huge
- Saudi Arabia’s private sector has close to 10 million foreign workers.
- Foreign nationals comprise around 41% of the nation’s population.
With the World Cup, demands for stadiums, hotels, transport systems, and fan zones will only intensify. If Saudi Arabia cannot handle basic worker protections today, conditions will be far worse under the pressure of a mega-event.
Linking the OIC Meeting to Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Ambition
The OIC conference demonstrates Saudi Arabia trying to rebrand itself as a modern labor leader in the Muslim world. But since it is still committing abuses of labor rights, this is textbook state sportswashing.
The contrast could not be more stark: Abuthnain speaks about “social protection” and “employment innovation” in public, while thousands of workers perish or are exploited on building sites.
In awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia, FIFA would be complicit in rewarding this illusion of reform while abetting labor abuses on a catastrophic scale. The OIC meeting can thus be taken as an example of how Saudi Arabia uses international forums to accumulate legitimacy at the expense of its own widespread failures.
FIFA’s Silence on Human Rights Violations
FIFA has repeatedly promised to uphold human rights standards when awarding hosting rights, yet its silence on Saudi Arabia’s record is alarming. Independent watchdogs, including Amnesty International, have warned that thousands of migrant workers face exploitative conditions in the Kingdom. With the 2034 FIFA World Cup looming, FIFA’s failure to be transparent is a clear double standard.
In demanding reforms from certain countries, it ignores Saudi Arabia’s violations. This silence is not neutrality; it is complicity. Issuing Saudi Arabia hosting rights without accountability erodes the credibility of football and trades human rights for gains.
Why the World Should Boycott Saudi 2034
The option before FIFA, human rights groups, and football supporters across the globe is clear. Either we let Saudi Arabia use the 2034 World Cup as a cover for its continued abuses, or we seek accountability and justice for workers. To avoid another exploitation cycle like we witnessed in Qatar 2022, the world must act now.
FIFA and sporting institutions should not permit themselves to be utilized to give spurious legitimacy to regimes with abysmal labor and human rights records. If the tournament goes ahead in Saudi Arabia, there should be independent, legally enforceable scrutiny of working conditions, the right of unions to organize, transparency regarding fatalities, and compensation to workers.
Use Saudi’s own words from the OIC meeting to show the double standard, they promise labor protections abroad while ignoring abuse at home. Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia largely come from Asia and Africa. Advocacy must involve unions, NGOs, and governments in those countries to pressure both Saudi Arabia and FIFA. Human rights bodies and labor organizations should monitor Saudi practices, especially in the lead-up to any international sporting event.