…Raises alarm over Ugandan, Ghanaian, Nigerian workers facing similar fates
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has expressed displeasure over the tragic deaths of at least 274 Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia over the past five years, as revealed by a recent report
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa described the situation as a “growing labour rights abuses crisis” that highlights the systemic exploitation of African migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Beyond the shocking loss of Kenyan workers, ITUC-Africa has sounded the alarm over similar fates befalling Ugandan, Ghanaian, and Nigerian workers, particularly women employed as domestic workers. “These tragedies, disproportionately affecting African women, expose a systemic pattern of exploitation, abuse, and impunity that demands immediate and decisive intervention,” the statement noted.
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The organisation lamented that many African workers travel to Saudi Arabia seeking better economic opportunities, only to face horrific abuses, including unpaid wages, arbitrary detention, forced labour, physical violence, starvation, sexual assault, and psychological torture.
“To imagine the large and growing number of deaths of these persons who went to Saudi Arabia to work and earn a decent living, and not as recruited mercenaries serving in some civil conflict, is beyond comprehension and unacceptable,” Odigie stressed.
Returnee workers’ testimonies have painted a grim picture of life in Saudi Arabia for African migrants. Many who survived reported harrowing experiences of modern-day slavery, with their fundamental rights grossly violated. Even more disturbing are the cases where African workers return home in coffins, with autopsy reports revealing clear signs of torture: burns, electric shocks, broken bones, only for their deaths to be falsely classified as “natural causes.” The statement noted.
ITUC-Africa went on to condemn the role of politically connected recruitment agencies and labour brokers in perpetuating this cycle of exploitation. The union noted that many African governments have signed Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) with GCC states, but these agreements have failed to safeguard the rights and dignity of their citizens. Instead, they have only facilitated the steady export of vulnerable workers into environments rife with abuse, where accountability is almost non-existent.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and accelerates its modernisation plans, ITUC-Africa fears that the demand for migrant labour will increase significantly. “We are profoundly concerned that abuses, exploitation, and deaths of African migrant workers may continue in Saudi Arabia,” the statement warned. The group noted a surge in new labour migration agreements between Saudi Arabia and African governments, many of which lack adequate rights protection mechanisms and monitoring frameworks.
In a call for urgent action, ITUC-Africa demanded that Saudi Arabia and all GCC states take full responsibility for protecting migrant workers, ensuring safe working conditions, fair treatment, and justice for those who have suffered abuse. “No more cover-ups. No more impunity. Those responsible for the exploitation and deaths of African workers must be held accountable in Saudi Arabia and anywhere they occur,” Odigie declared.
Furthermore, ITUC-Africa urged African governments to move beyond mere statements of concern and take concrete steps to protect their citizens. The organization called for the renegotiation or revocation of exploitative labour agreements that fail to prioritize workers’ safety and well-being. “Governments must implement stricter regulations on recruitment agencies to prevent trafficking and labour exploitation,” ITUC-Africa stated.
The statement also emphasized the need for education and awareness programs for potential migrant workers on their rights and safety. ITUC-Africa urged governments to provide toll-free helplines at departure points and in host countries, along with comprehensive legal, consular, and diplomatic support for their citizens facing abuse abroad.
The organisation further called for stronger trade union partnerships and worker protection mechanisms to monitor, report, and prevent further violations. “We are currently engaged in our campaign to encourage Saudi Arabia to implement inclusive, collaborative, and genuine reforms of its labour migration governance, both in law and in practice,” ITUC-Africa said.
ITUC-Africa reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ending the abuse, exploitation, and deaths of African migrant workers. “We shall not be deterred or rest until we see genuine and sustained respect for black lives in Saudi Arabia. Black lives matter. African lives matter. The dignity, safety, and rights of African workers must be protected, regardless of their location in the world,” Odigie concluded.