UN Labour Agency Director General Commends Relations with Saudi Arabia Amid Ongoing Rights Investigation

The United Nations labour agency maintains a positive relationship with Saudi Arabia amid an investigation into alleged rights violations by the 2034 World Cup host. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) aims to deploy more experts to Riyadh. Gilbert Houngbo, the ILO's director general, described the bilateral relations as "very constructive" during a briefing ahead of the annual world leaders' meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Houngbo acknowledged outgoing US President Joe Biden's concerns about the increasing influence of a "tech-industrial complex." Biden highlighted this issue in his farewell address from the White House. Houngbo, who led Togo's government from 2008 to 2012, expressed agreement with Biden's concerns, emphasising the need for global reflection on the matter.

Saudi Arabia's Labour Relations and World Cup Preparations

The ILO is actively investigating a formal complaint by an international trade union against Saudi Arabia. The complaint alleges mistreatment within the "kafala" employment system for migrant workers, crucial for the kingdom's construction boom. This complaint was filed last year as FIFA directed the 2034 men's soccer tournament towards Saudi Arabia.

Human Rights Watch urged FIFA to secure commitments to protect migrant workers in Saudi Arabia before confirming its World Cup win in December. Most migrant workers come from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Yemen. Although Saudi bid documents offered collaboration with one international body — the ILO — no public assurances or commitments were made to allow civil society groups to monitor World Cup projects.

"The Saudi authorities have told me that they really want to work with ILO," said Houngbo. He noted that if both parties acknowledge labour condition deficits, they are willing to address and correct them. Saudi Arabia plans to build and renovate 15 stadiums across five cities for the 48-team, 104-game tournament.

Concerns Over Migrant Worker Safety

Eight new stadiums are required, matching Qatar's total for the 2022 World Cup. Some designs are notably innovative. Rights activists and trade unions worry about insufficient safeguards to prevent issues faced during Qatar's preparations, including numerous migrant worker deaths. The ILO collaborated with Qatar, establishing an office in Doha to help reform its "kafala" laws.

"We are discussing with the authorities to increase our presence even with some more experts in Riyadh," Houngbo stated. He also mentioned Riyadh hosting the 2030 World Expo as another major construction project. Houngbo plans to visit Riyadh for the Global Labour Market Conference on January 29-30.

Global Labour Market Challenges

The ILO report indicates that global unemployment remained steady at 5% in 2024 but rose slightly among young people to 12.6%. Labour markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions, climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues. The global jobs gap increased to 402 million people seeking work but unable to find it.

The informal economy saw a 10% rise, reaching a total of 2.2 billion people. Houngbo expressed concern about job quality lacking social protection and collective bargaining rights. Extreme working poverty affected 240 million people or 7% of the global workforce, according to the ILO report.

Biden's Warning on Power Concentration

President Biden warned of threats to democracy from "a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a few ultra-wealthy people." Houngbo shared these concerns but refrained from commenting on specific individuals or countries. He emphasised that technology and investors are part of job creation, though whether these jobs are decent remains a topic for debate.

Houngbo expressed confidence in "the multilateral system" and stressed the importance of discussing these issues collectively. The ILO continues its efforts to address global employment challenges while maintaining constructive relations with countries like Saudi Arabia.