Let this sink: 21,000 laborers, allegedly, dead building NEOM

According to recent reports, there are claims that approximately 21,000 foreign workers have died since 2017 while working on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 projects, which include the NEOM development[1][2][5]. However, it’s important to note that this figure is disputed and the situation is complex:

1. The claims come from a documentary by UK broadcaster ITV, which reported that 21,000 foreign laborers, primarily from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, have died while working on Saudi Arabian megaprojects since 2017[1][5].

2. The documentary also alleged that an additional 100,000 workers are missing[1][2].

3. These deaths are not exclusively linked to NEOM but are associated with various projects under the Vision 2030 initiative, which includes NEOM as well as other developments across Saudi Arabia[5].

4. The Saudi Arabian government has firmly rejected these claims[1]. The Arabian National Center for Occupational Health and Safety has called the reports “misinformation” and stated that the work-related fatality rate in Saudi Arabia is 1.12 per 100,000 workers, which they claim is among the lowest globally[1][4].

5. Nepal’s foreign employment board has reported that the deaths of over 650 Nepalese workers in Saudi Arabia remain unexplained[5].

6. Workers interviewed for the documentary described harsh working conditions, including 16-hour workdays and feelings of being “trapped” and treated like “beggars”[2][6].

It’s important to note that these figures are contested, and there is ongoing debate about the accuracy of the reported death toll. The Saudi government denies the claims, while human rights organizations and some media outlets continue to raise concerns about worker safety and rights in these large-scale construction projects.

Citations:

1. Saudi Arabia Brands Claims of Dead Workers as ‘Misinformation’ in Construction
2. Workers Have Died Building Saudi Arabia’s NEOM
3. Documentary Reveals 21,000 Workers Killed in Saudi Vision 2030 NEOM
4. Saudi Arabia Calls Reports of 21,000 Construction Worker Deaths ‘Misinformation’
5. Workers Killed in Saudi Megaprojects Construction
6. 21,000 Workers Dead in 8 Years of Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030: Report