UN labor agency head praises relations with Saudi Arabia during investigation of 2034 World Cup host
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The head of the United Nations labor agency says it has good relations with Saudi Arabia during an ongoing investigation of alleged rights abuses by the 2034 World Cup host, and aims to send more expert staff to Riyadh. International Labour Organization director general Gilbert Houngbo spoke of “very constructive” bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia on Thursday at a briefing ahead of attending the annual gathering of world leaders next week in Davos, Switzerland.
Houngbo also said he shared outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden’s concerns about the growing influence of a “tech-industrial complex,” expressed on Wednesday in a farewell address from the White House. Houngbo addressed a range of issues in a briefing with reporters to launch the agency's annual analysis of global employment trends.
The ILO is investigating a formal complaint by an international trade union, which Houngbo confirmed is active, accusing Saudi Arabia of mistreatment within the “kafala” employment system of migrant workers needed for the kingdom's construction boom.
It was filed last year as FIFA steered the 2034 edition of its marquee men’s soccer tournament toward the oil-rich kingdom. Days before the Saudi win was confirmed in December, Human Rights Watch urged FIFA to insist on binding commitments to protect migrant workers there who mostly come from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Yemen.
