Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s key focus is the Nowadya Neom City project. His Vision 2030 aims to modernize Saudi Arabia. This outstanding urban development is intended to transform the nation. However, due to unsafe working conditions, it has faced criticism. Many reports and documentaries explore alarming details about this situation.
According to the latest reports, many people, approximately 21000, lost their lives in just eight years. This high death toll points out the dangers faced by laborers. According to workers, they felt like trapped slaves highlighted by the serious violation of their basic human rights.
Furthermore, Saudi modernization efforts raise many questions about human rights in the nation. The nation is on the way to progress, but it must solve the issues and ensure workers’ safety. Leaders across the world are closely watching every single action of Saudi Arabia, so it is important for the nation to maintain a balance between development and human rights.
Workers face severe problems in Saudi Arabia. According to them, they work for at least 16 hours per day. It means workers work on the Line skyscraper project for more than 84 hours each week. According to Saudi law, every person cannot work for more than 60 hours a week. It means the rule is not being followed in the nation. This and so many working hours are causing laborers to feel stressed and not get enough rest.
Furthermore, it is also said that many migrant workers are missing, especially in the contraction of jobs. Reports reveal that approximately 100 workers are missing and no one knows where they went. Many workers who belong to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh lost their lives during the fulfillment of this project. According to Nepal’s Foreign Employment Board reports, many Nepali workers have been injured and died due to unclear circumstances.
Nicholas McGeehan, from the human rights group FairSquare, stated that workers face mistreatment and unsafe working environments. He highlights that the Saudi prince keeps them working for longer hours, which violates international rules and working hours limits. This situation needs urgent attention to protect workers and ensure their safety.
These workers have also not been paid for several months and complete their working hours without any payment. Some employees claimed that they haven’t gotten their salaries for more than 10 months and are struggling to find the necessities of life due to this inappropriate condition. These workers are also not allowed to leave the country and meet their family members. One of the Nepalian workers asked for help during the phone call. He tearfully pleads, “Please listen to me, I am very sick,” highlighting the urgent need for rescue and support.
What is the scope of the Neom project?
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated the grandiose metropolitan project Neom, in the Tabuk Province of Saudi Arabia in 2017. Neom, which covers 26,500 square kilometers, is situated near the northern edge of the Red Sea. In line with Saudi Arabia’s objectives for regional economic development and modernization, the project intends to create a sizable industrial area, a worldwide commerce hub, and tourist resorts.
Although many experts doubt the Neom project’s projected cost of more than $1.5 trillion, Saudi Arabia intends to finish it by 2039. Human rights violations and environmental harm are also major concerns. The appalling conditions that migrant laborers endure have been documented in a documentary, underscoring the unethical nature of such treatment.
Neom is a crucial component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, although it has significant problems, such as worker fatalities and human rights abuses. The international community has called for action since the ITV broadcast raised awareness of these issues. This brings up significant issues regarding the worth of human life in Saudi Arabia’s lofty objectives. These problems show that ethical treatment and responsibility for all employees must be given priority in future projects.