• Human rights groups report rising migrant worker fatalities in Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
• Common causes of death include severe workplace accidents, electrocution, and inadequate safety measures.
• FIFA faces criticism for not requiring stronger labor protections in its World Cup preparations.
• Families of deceased workers often struggle with compensation and face bureaucratic hurdles.
• Current reforms in Saudi labor laws are seen as insufficient by rights organizations.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued grave warnings about the alarming number of migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia, particularly as the country accelerates preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The organization highlights that "scores of migrant workers... die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents," including incidents involving falls, electrocution, and decapitation, emphasizing the urgent need for improved safety standards and accountability for such tragedies, according to BBC, HuffPost, Middle East Eye, and Dawn.

According to HRW, the ongoing construction initiatives for the World Cup are exacerbating existing risks for migrant laborers, who already represent a significant portion of the workforce in Saudi Arabia. Recent details from the investigations indicate that deaths are often misclassified as "natural causes," effectively shielding the incidents from scrutiny and allowing families to receive little or no compensation. In 2023, around 74% of Indian migrant worker deaths recorded were attributed to such misclassifications, raising serious concerns about worker safety and justice mechanisms, as highlighted by HuffPost, Middle East Eye, and Dawn.

Families of workers who die in these circumstances often face a long, bureaucratic battle to secure compensation, with reports of one widow waiting ten years to access benefits. Furthermore, cases of employers coercing families into agreeing to local burials in exchange for compensation add an additional layer of victimization. For example, one family recounted needing to borrow money just to repatriate a body after a worker was electrocuted, indicating a deeply flawed compensation process, according to BBC, HuffPost, and Middle East Eye.

Amid growing criticism, FIFA has indicated plans to enhance labor protections in Saudi Arabia, stating that it is committed to establishing a "workers’ welfare system" focused on necessary standards and enforcement mechanisms for World Cup-related construction. However, critics point out that without substantial details and effective implementation of these measures, the ongoing risks to workers remain dangerously unaddressed. Some organizations argue that FIFA is prioritizing the event's financial aspects over worker safety, echoing similar concerns that arose during Qatar's 2022 World Cup preparations, according to BBC, HuffPost, Middle East Eye, and Dawn.

Saudi Arabia's labor laws, while improved since 2018, are still seen as inadequate in practice, failing to enforce necessary protections that could prevent avoidable fatalities among migrant workers. The kafala system continues to bind workers to their employers, contributing to ongoing exploitation and abuse. Despite promises for reforms, many laborers remain vulnerable to dangerous working conditions without proper oversight and accountability, highlighting systemic issues that need urgent resolution if the country is to manage the expectations and responsibilities associated with hosting the upcoming World Cup, according to BBC, HuffPost, Middle East Eye, and Dawn.