Migrant worker dies during World Cup stadium construction in Saudi Arabia

According to a report by The Guardian, a foreign worker tragically died while constructing a stadium in Saudi Arabia for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This incident has once again brought attention to the protection of labor rights in Saudi Arabia.

The British newspaper, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Pakistani worker, Mohammed Arshad, fell from a height on March 12 while working on the Aramco Stadium in Khobar. The Belgian construction multinational Besix Group confirmed his death, with its subsidiary being one of the main contractors for the stadium.

The company stated in a release: "A team of three workers were carrying out formwork activities [creating molds for concrete] at height when the platform they were working on tilted. While all three were equipped with personal fall protection systems, one worker was not connected to an anchor point at the time of the incident, fell and sustained critical injuries." Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, "the worker unfortunately passed away in hospital due to the severity of his injuries."

This marks the first recorded death of a migrant worker related to the 2034 World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia. Human rights organizations strongly oppose the kingdom hosting the global event, citing its poor human rights record and warning that migrant workers will be at risk due to the country's poor track record on the issue. The Guardian reported that following Arshad's death, workers were called to a meeting and instructed to delete any video footage of the incident and avoid discussing it with anyone.

Besix stated that this was done "out of respect for the victim's family." The company added: "Safety is always our absolute priority. A full investigation is underway by the authorities and we are fully cooperating to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy." Arshad's father, Mohammed Bashir, told The Guardian that they "simply fell from the sky to the ground. The whole family is in shock." Arshad was also the sole source of income for his three sons. A relative in Saudi Arabia informed Bashir that the family would receive his son's unpaid wages and benefits. Saudi labor law stipulates that employers must also pay compensation in the event of a work-related death.

The Aramco Stadium is one of 11 venues being built for the 2034 World Cup. The 47,000-seat stadium is owned by Saudi state oil company Aramco, which is FIFA's most lucrative sponsor. A Daily Mail investigation last year found that some migrant workers at the stadium were enduring "appalling conditions." Workers said they were burdened with debt from being forced to pay fees to enter Saudi Arabia, and were living in dark, cramped rooms while working 10-hour days in summer heat of 45 degrees Celsius. Besix stated that they had "made significant progress" in protecting workers' rights, while Aramco said that the safety and well-being of its employees is "our top priority." The company said in a statement: "The company follows industry best practices to manage and report incidents, including determining the facts, sequence of events and root causes."