Faith Nyasuguta
A coalition of African trade unions has lodged a complaint with the United Nations’ Working Group on Business and Human Rights, outlining the mistreatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. The group, led by the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), detailed crimes against workers, including forced labour, wage theft, psychological and physical abuse, and preventable deaths.
The complaint was signed by trade unions from seven countries: the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) in Kenya, the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) in Somalia, the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unionists (CETU) in Ethiopia, the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) in Uganda, the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Human rights abuse in Saudi Arabia has been consistently documented by organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW). A significant proportion of victims are low-paid workers from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Earlier this year, HRW reported on the exploitation of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia’s construction and domestic sectors and the killings of migrants and asylum seekers on the Yemen-Saudi border.
Saudi Arabia’s reliance on migrant labour is extensive, with over 6.3 million migrants making up 80% of the private sector workforce. Many workers are tied to the Kafala system, a framework that binds their residency status to their employers. The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR) describes the Kafala system as a mechanism often abused by employers, leading to violations of workers’ rights.
Amnesty International (AI) has also reported on the exploitation of workers in Saudi Arabia. In a recent investigation, AI uncovered mistreatment of migrant workers contracted to sites franchised by the French retail chain Carrefour.
These workers endured excessive working hours, were denied time off, and were often cheated of their earnings. AI stated that Carrefour failed to prevent the suffering of workers, some of whom were subjected to conditions amounting to forced labour.
The African trade unions’ complaint emphasized the preventable deaths of many African workers due to workplace accidents, untreated illnesses, and mistreatment. They urged for the abolition of the Kafala system, stronger legal protections for migrant workers, and the establishment of a compensation fund for victims and their families.
“These practices flagrantly violate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” the unions argued. “Under these principles, states have a duty to protect human rights and ensure that businesses respect these rights.”
The complaint reflects mounting international pressure on Saudi Arabia to address human rights violations. The unions highlighted the responsibility of global corporations operating in the kingdom to ensure ethical labour practices.
Marta Schaaf, Director of Amnesty International’s Corporate Accountability Programme, remarked, “Workers thought they were opening the door to a better life but instead many were subjected to appalling exploitation and abuse.” She added that Carrefour’s inaction likely facilitated conditions tantamount to forced labour.
The unions’ appeal to the United Nations marks a critical step in advocating for the rights of migrant workers and holding governments and corporations accountable. Their demands for systemic reforms aim to prevent further exploitation and provide justice for victims and their families.
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