GENEVA — The leader of the United Nations labor organization, Gilbert Houngbo, indicated that the agency maintains a positive relationship with Saudi Arabia amid an active investigation into claims of human rights violations associated with the upcoming 2034 World Cup. He expressed intentions to send additional expert personnel to Riyadh as part of this initiative.
During a briefing preceding the annual meeting of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Houngbo described the collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Saudi Arabia as “very constructive.” He also echoed concerns voiced by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden regarding the rising power of a “tech-industrial complex,” which were highlighted in Biden’s recent farewell address.
In the discussion with reporters, Houngbo addressed several important topics, including the ILO’s ongoing inquiry into a formal complaint lodged by an international trade union. This complaint alleges the mistreatment of migrant workers under the “kafala” system, which is reportedly pertinent to the burgeoning construction demands in the kingdom. This complaint was initiated last year as FIFA began the process of hosting the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Just days before the announcement of Saudi Arabia’s successful bid in December, Human Rights Watch had urged FIFA to require enforceable commitments to safeguard the rights of migrant workers, who predominantly hail from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Yemen.
Despite these concerns, the Saudi government has not publicly pledged to allow civil society organizations to monitor World Cup-related projects. Nonetheless, the bid submitted to FIFA included an offer to collaborate solely with the ILO. Houngbo noted that Saudi officials expressed a strong desire to partner with the ILO, stating, “If both parties recognize that there are some deficiencies in labor conditions, they are prepared to address and improve them.”
For the tournament, Saudi Arabia is set to construct and upgrade 15 stadiums across five cities, with eight of those needing to be built completely anew. Some designs are described as remarkably innovative. However, there are significant concerns from rights activists and trade unions that FIFA and Saudi Arabia may not effectively implement safeguards to prevent a recurrence of the issues faced during World Cup preparations in Qatar, including numerous migrant worker fatalities.
Previously, the ILO collaborated with Qatar, including the establishment of an office in Doha to assist in reforming its labor laws. Houngbo remarked on current discussions with Saudi authorities about enhancing the ILO’s presence in Riyadh, particularly with the city gearing up to host the 2030 World Expo.
Houngbo, who is scheduled to visit Riyadh for the upcoming Global Labor Market Conference on January 29-30, expressed alignment with President Biden’s warnings regarding the threats posed by a concentration of power among the wealthy to democracy. He articulated the necessity for global unity and introspection concerning these issues, while avoiding any specific criticisms of individuals or countries.
He stated, “It is not about labeling specific countries or businessmen as good or bad,” emphasizing that technology and its investors play a crucial economic role in job creation, however, the nature of these jobs—whether they are decent—is an important debate that should take place. Houngbo affirmed his belief in the necessity of maintaining a multilateral approach to these discussions.
As for the global employment landscape, the ILO’s report noted that the unemployment rate stands steady at 5% in 2024 but has increased slightly among the youth, now at 12.6%. Labor markets are facing various pressures, such as geopolitical tensions, escalating costs due to climate change, and unresolved debt issues.
The ILO highlighted a significant global jobs gap, estimating that there are currently 402 million individuals seeking work without success. Additionally, the informal labor sector has expanded by 10%, bringing the total to a staggering 2.2 billion workers. Houngbo expressed continued concern over the quality of these jobs, many of which lack social protections and do not facilitate collective bargaining.
Finally, the report indicated that approximately 240 million workers—representing 7% of the global workforce—are affected by severe working poverty.
