By An undercover investigation by a female reporter has uncovered the dangerous and deadly working conditions inside Saudi Arabia’s £1 trillion Neom megaproject, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of his Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
According to shocking new statistics revealed in ITV’s documentary “Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia,” more than 21,000 workers have died in just eight years since the project’s launch. Migrant workers have complained of feeling like “trapped slaves” and “beggars” while facing serious allegations of missed payments, illegal working hours, and human rights violations.
The documentary features interviews with terrified workers and heartbroken family members of those who have died since moving to Saudi Arabia to work on the megaproject. Reports allege that as many as 100,000 migrant workers have gone missing during the construction of Neom, with over 650 Nepalese worker deaths still unexplained, according to Nepal’s Foreign Employment Board.
An undercover journalist named Noura spoke with workers from The Line, a futuristic 100-mile car-free city under construction in the Saudi desert. One worker revealed that he often works 16-hour days, totaling upwards of 84 hours per week, far exceeding Saudi Arabia’s legal limit of 60 hours per week.
Nicholas McGeehan, director at human rights organisation FairSquare, commented, “These working hours are way beyond what the international minimum standards permit. The reality is that workers all over Saudi Arabia are subject to deeply abusive and dangerous exploitation.”
Workers also reported not being paid for months, with some claiming they haven’t received any cash in their accounts for up to 10 months. Others allege that they don’t get fed or can’t afford to eat, and are never allowed to leave the Kingdom to see their families.
The documentary features a harrowing phone call from a Nepalese worker named Raju Bishwakarma, who begged to be rescued while in tears due to his deteriorating health. Despite his condition, he was allegedly forced to continue working and was later found dead in his room.
Nepali human rights lawyer Anurag Devkota said, “Migrant workers are leaving this country every day, for a better future for their family members and a better future for their country. But in return, what we are getting is the dead bodies in the wooden boxes.”
ITV states that they presented all of the allegations in the film to the Saudi Government but did not receive a reply. In a statement, Neom replied, “We are assessing the claims made in this programme and, where required, will take appropriate action. We require all contractors and subcontractors to comply with NEOM’s Code of Conduct, based on the laws of Saudi Arabia and the policies of the International Labour Organization.”
The documentary “Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia” is set to air on Sunday, October 27 at 10:15pm on ITV, shedding light on the dark reality behind Saudi Arabia’s ambitious megaproject and the human cost of its construction.
Source: the-sun.com
