Labour exploitation of migrant workers at Carrefour in Saudi Arabia: Amnesty International

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 22: Amnesty International has lately reported instances of labour exploitation involving migrant workers employed at Carrefour in Saudi Arabia. The report titled  ‘I would fear going to work’: Labour exploitation at Carrefour sites in Saudi Arabia" reveals that workers were deceived by agents, forced to work excessively long hours, denied leave, and subjected to wage fraud.

The findings of the Amnesty report are based on interviews and information gathered from 17 men from Nepal, India, and Pakistan. These individuals worked at various Carrefour locations in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah from 2021 to 2024. All were found to have been employed through a labour supply company.

According to the report, to secure employment, workers paid an average fee of $1,200 to recruitment agents in their home countries. It was also revealed that many workers had to take out high-interest loans to cover these fees, a practice prohibited by the Saudi government.

The interviewed workers reported being misled about the labour conditions and wages in Saudi Arabia. They were initially told they would be working for an international company but ended up employed by a supply company, which, as the report indicates, exploited them.

Workers stated they were often required to walk more than 20 kilometres daily and work up to 60 hours a week, with some toiling for as long as 16 hours a day during Ramadan. The report found that companies frequently failed to provide weekly rest days, contrary to Saudi government regulations.

One worker who had experience in a Carrefour warehouse remarked that employees were not treated with dignity inside Carrefour stores. He stated, "They treat workers like animals. They only shout 'Yallah, Yallah' (hurry up, hurry up) and even forcefully grab our t-shirts to make us work faster."

The investigation revealed that companies housed workers in substandard living conditions, often cramming 6 to 8 individuals into a single room.

Migrant workers are compelled to endure exploitation by their employers. The report notes that when workers complain or file grievances, companies threaten to terminate their employment, leading many to refrain from voicing their concerns.

Marta Shaaf, director of Amnesty International's Climate, Economic and Social Justice, and Business Accountability Program, stated that the contracted companies at Carrefour are exacerbating exploitation instead of providing relief. "Workers may be subjected to human trafficking and forced labour," she noted.

Shaaf emphasized that Carrefour has a clear responsibility under international human rights standards to ensure no abuses occur in its workplaces and those operated by its franchises. She insisted that Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim must provide immediate compensation to the affected individuals.

Amnesty's report further found that franchise operators of the Carrefour group in Saudi Arabia face threats of involuntary labour and punitive measures.

In light of these findings, Marta Shaaf asserted that fundamental reforms are necessary within Saudi Arabia's labour system. "The ILO governing body must promptly investigate violations of workers' rights, and Saudi Arabia must ensure that its labour laws and practices fully comply with international standards," she concluded.