UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has pledged to ensure appropriate labor standards during preparations for the tournament, which will rely largely on migrant workers.
Two days before FIFA officially confirms Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, the UN’s top human rights official pledged to advocate for respect for workers’ labor standards. migrants during preparations for the tournament.
Saudi Arabia, the sole candidate for the 2034 World Cup, is expected to win hosting rights without opposition at an online FIFA meeting on Wednesday.
The state’s plan includes building eight of 15 proposed stadiums and adding 175,000 hotel rooms that rely heavily on migrant workers — mostly from South Asia — under a labor structure which rights groups have criticized for its inadequate protections.
On Monday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, addressed the issue at a press conference to mark the annual UN Human Rights Day, noting that although his organization is not directly involved in FIFA, it is committed to ensuring that human rights are an integral part of it. . All major sporting events.
“What we are committed to, however, is ensuring that in every major sporting event, human rights are an integral part of how sporting events are not only designed but organized,” Turk said .
Labor abuse issues
Saudi Arabia’s World Cup plans have drawn comparisons to 2022 World Cup host Qatar, which has been marred by allegations of widespread labor rights abuses.
Labor practices in Saudi Arabia are already under investigation by the International Labor Organization (ILO) following a formal complaint by unions.
Two US senators have urged FIFA to reconsider awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia, citing ongoing human rights concerns.
Critics have argued that FIFA has failed to use its influence to resolve these problems, despite its president Gianni Infantino’s close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Turk stressed the UN’s willingness to provide advice to the tournament organizers, saying: “Whatever the decision, whoever hosts it, we will provide the same type of advice to the organizers.” This must include the need to ensure that migrant labor standards are properly respected as well as various other human rights dimensions at major sporting events.
Although Saudi Arabia’s application document includes a commitment to cooperate with the ILO and national organizations, it notably excludes international unions and rights groups, whose access is limited within the country.
