Amnesty International has released a report detailing alleged exploitation of migrant workers, including Nepalis, on the Riyadh Metro project in Saudi Arabia over the past decade. The report highlights abuses such as unpaid wages, excessive working hours, unsafe working conditions, and restrictions on freedom of movement. The investigation claims to have documented the mistreatment of workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, and India who were involved in the construction of the metro system.
The report, released by Amnesty International, details multiple instances of workers enduring difficult conditions. Many faced delayed or withheld wages, leaving them struggling to provide for their families back home. The report further underscores the perilous working environments, which allegedly lacked adequate safety measures and exposed workers to preventable risks. In several cases, workers were allegedly compelled to work excessive hours, far exceeding the legally permissible limits under Saudi Arabian labor laws.
The study includes testimonies and other data collected with the help of workers who worked on the project. These workers described the challenges and abuses they endured while constructing the metro system in Riyadh, from the initial recruitment process to their day-to-day work tasks. Sources said that the recruitment process included high fees, placing workers into debt even before they started work. Furthermore, the report says that workers were denied the right to rest and a favorable working climate. Many workers encountered challenges in sending money home to their families as well.
Amnesty International, in its report, has called on the Saudi Arabian government and the involved companies to take immediate action to address the alleged abuses and ensure that migrant workers receive compensation, justice, and effective remedies. The organization urges the authorities to investigate the involved parties and hold them accountable for their actions and to implement measures to prevent future exploitation. The report also highlights the need for companies to ensure due diligence to safeguard workers' rights within their supply chains.
This investigation shines a light on the precarity of migrant workers that have left their home country in search of better economic opportunities. It also highlights the responsibility that hosting countries and companies from around the world hold when bringing in labor.
For the Nepali diaspora, this report is particularly significant. It underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Nepali workers in foreign labor markets and the critical need for robust protections and support systems. Many Nepalis rely on remittances sent home from abroad, and issues like delayed or unpaid wages directly impact their families' financial stability and overall well-being. This information should urge the Nepali diaspora to advocate together for their rights abroad, and work on policies that would provide them protection, if they do face any challenges.
