Somalia: ITUC condemns exploitative labour agreements with Saudi Arabia

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) stands in solidarity with its affiliate the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) in its condemnation of the bilateral agreements signed by the governments of Somalia and Saudi Arabia.

The agreements support the deployment of Somali workers to Saudi Arabia as it prepares to host the 2034 FIFA men's world cup. Despite explicit recommendations from the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2022 to add worker protections to the deals to comply with international labour standards, they were signed without a single amendment.

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle commented: "We condemn these agreements, rushed through under political pressure without consulting with workers' unions, which disregard international labour standards, undermine workers' rights and create the conditions for the systematic exploitation of tens of thousands Somali migrant workers.

"FESTU has characterised these agreements as modern-day slavery, and the ITUC agrees. We stand with FESTU in its work for justice and denounce any attempt to silence independent trade unions and their work to reveal labour abuses.

"We will do all we can to expose these unacceptable agreements and hold the Somali and Saudi governments accountable for their actions." Luc Triangle

"The Somali government must honour its commitments to engage FESTU in social dialogue, review the agreements and ensure worker protections.

"The commodification of Somali workers to meet labour demands for the FIFA World Cup, while being denied their rights, is a gross violation of human rights and international labour standards, and must be stopped."

• Rights
• Somalia
• Saudi Arabia