(Nairobi) – Leading African trade unions have filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, accusing Saudi Arabia of systemic human rights violations against African migrant workers. The unions cite forced labor, wage theft, and other abuses, including tragic deaths, as widespread and ongoing under the Gulf state’s controversial labor system.
The complaint, spearheaded by the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), represents a unified call for justice from trade union federations across the continent. Collaborating unions include the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) in Kenya, the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) in Somalia, the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), Uganda’s National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Together, they represent millions of workers and have become a formidable voice against the exploitation of African migrant labor.
Central to the unions’ grievances is Saudi Arabia’s Kafala system, a visa sponsorship program that ties workers’ legal status to their employers, granting employers near-total control. The unions argue that the system fosters exploitation by enabling confiscation of passports, curbing workers’ mobility, and perpetuating their isolation.
Particularly vulnerable are domestic workers, many of whom are women. They face disproportionately harsh conditions, including excessively long working hours, harassment, and sexual exploitation. For these women, escaping such environments or seeking legal redress is virtually impossible.
African workers’ experiences in Saudi Arabia are marked by unsafe working conditions, withheld wages, and abusive treatment. Many find themselves detained in overcrowded, unsanitary facilities despite having proper legal documentation, accused of vague visa violations.
In some cases, this mistreatment turns fatal. Deaths from workplace accidents, untreated illnesses, and sustained abuse highlight a devastating lack of accountability and enforcement of labor laws by Saudi authorities. The unions argue these practices violate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which obligate states to protect human rights and hold businesses accountable for abuses.
Key Issues Highlighted in the Complaint
| Abuses Reported | Details |
|---|---|
| Forced Labor | Workers coerced into labor under abusive conditions. |
| Wage Theft | Non-payment or underpayment of wages by employers. |
| Physical & Psychological Abuse | Harassment, sexual exploitation, and inhumane treatment of workers. |
| Unsafe Living Conditions | Overcrowded detention centers with poor sanitation and healthcare. |
| Fatalities | Deaths linked to abuse, workplace accidents, and lack of medical care. |
The unions emphasize that Saudi Arabia’s failure to regulate employer practices and enforce labor protections reflects a neglect of its international obligations. They are calling for immediate reforms, including the abolition of the Kafala system, stronger legal safeguards for migrant workers, and the creation of a compensation fund for victims and their families.
The submission also proposes the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism to oversee labor practices and ensure compliance with human rights standards.
The unions warn that if no action is taken, events like the upcoming 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Saudi Arabia is bidding to host, could further magnify these abuses. They urge the international community to prioritize accountability and human dignity over profit driven agendas, underscoring that migrant workers should not become expendable in pursuit of economic growth.
The landmark submission signals a bold stand by African trade unions, calling for global solidarity to protect the dignity, rights, and lives of vulnerable workers.
