The Saudi Arabian government has refuted claims made in a documentary by U.K. broadcaster ITV that over 20,000 foreign workers have died since 2017 while working on construction projects in the Middle East. The documentary alleged that migrant workers from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal were the main victims, with 100,000 more workers reportedly missing. These projects are part of Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s initiative to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil and towards tourism. The Saudi Arabian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health strongly denied the allegations, stating that the country’s working conditions meet international standards and that work-related fatalities in Saudi Arabia are among the lowest globally.
The council emphasized that the work-related fatalities in Saudi Arabia stand at 1.12 per 100,000 workers, positioning the country among the countries with the lowest work-related fatalities globally. The International Labor Organization has recognized Saudi Arabia’s progress in improving occupational safety and health and reducing workplace accidents at the national level. Other reputable international organizations, including the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and the British Safety Council, have also commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts in this regard. Saudi labor laws mandate that employers provide comprehensive health insurance for all employees, cover essential preventive, therapeutic, and healthcare services, regulate work under direct sunlight during summer months, and establish working hours in accordance with international standards outlined in relevant ILO agreements.
Neom, a 105-mile-long “linear city” project, is currently the world’s largest construction site, part of the Vision 2030 projects being carried out across Saudi Arabia. Construction on what could be the world’s largest building is also underway a few miles south along the coast in Jeddah. A significant influx of workers arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2017 as construction on these projects began in earnest. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which manages the Vision 2030 projects, was contacted for comment by Newsweek but has not provided a response. The Saudi Arabian government continues to assert that the working conditions at construction sites in the country meet international standards and has denied the allegations of missing workers as reported in the documentary.
Despite Nepal’s foreign employment board not receiving any explanation for the deaths of over 650 migrants in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health remains firm in refuting the claims of high worker fatalities and missing workers. The council stresses the importance of verifying information from credible sources and highlights the measures in place to ensure the safety and health of workers in the country. As construction continues on the Vision 2030 projects, including Neom and other major developments, the Saudi government continues to defend its record on worker safety and adherence to international standards. With international organizations recognizing Saudi Arabia’s progress in improving occupational safety and health, the allegations made in the documentary are being strongly contested by the authorities in the country.
