Worker safety at Saudi Arabia is facing major “Challenges At Neom Megaproject”, with investigations revealing hazardous conditions, reported incidents of violence, accidents, and systemic abuses—especially for migrant workers. Neom’s site has seen reports of gang rape, suicides, attempted murder, and drug dealing among its large workforce, which mainly comprises migrant workers laboring in an isolated desert environment.
Key Worker Safety Concerns at Saudi’s Neom Megaproject
Environmental Factors
- Worker safety challenges at Neom megaproject related to environmental factors are significant and multifaceted.
The project is located in a harsh desert environment with extreme heat, which severely affects worker health and productivity. Workers are exposed to heat stress and long working hours under high temperatures, which increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries. This environmental hazard is compounded by the tight and unrealistic deadlines set for the project’s completion, pushing workers to exert themselves beyond safe limits without sufficient rest or protection measures leading to long-term health risks or death from exhaustion or heat stroke.
“Die First, and I’ll Pay You Later”
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Giga-Projects’ Built on Widespread Labor Abuses
- Additionally, the isolated location of Neom creates logistical challenges that impact workers’ safety. The remoteness means limited access to emergency services, medical facilities, and even support from foreign embassies. This isolation can delay response times during accidents or health emergencies and restrict workers’ ability to seek help or report unsafe conditions
- Other environmental challenges include the impact on biodiversity and ecosystems around the Red Sea coast, with concerns over pollution, untreated sewage, and habitat disruption from construction activities. These issues indirectly affect worker safety by creating a complex and risky operating environment.
- The environmental harshness combined with insufficient enforcement of labor protections, inadequate safety infrastructure, and poor living conditions collectively create a hazardous environment for workers. These factors, alongside organizational and social challenges such as heavy surveillance, lack of privacy, and exploitative labor practices, exacerbate the overall risk to worker welfare on this megaproject.
These challenges require stringent health and safety regulations, adequate rest and hydration breaks, emergency preparedness, and improved living conditions for workers to mitigate risks effectively.
Accidents and Fatalities
In 2023, Neom recorded eight workplace deaths, involving incidents such as vehicle crashes, collapsed tunnels and walls, and mishandling of explosives. Some former employees caution that the official count of fatalities and injuries may be understated, as incidents are not always systematically documented.
Image Source: https://amwaj.media/
Workplace Abuses and Labor Rights
Extreme working hours and pressure to meet ambitious targets increase the risk of fatigue and accidents, with workers describing how daily quotas force them to forego breaks and exert themselves without pause.
Wage theft- delayed or non-payment of wages, and companies failing to provide proper living conditions, especially for workers recruited from South Asia.
Restrictions on Migrant workers often face severe job mobility despite labor reforms, with many forced to sign contracts that penalize them financially if they switch employers.
High Recruitment fees for workers often lead to debt bondage, making workers vulnerable to further abuses.
Systemic Documentation Issues
Neom worker deaths are attributed to a mix of construction and health hazards, but a critical lack of proper investigation and reporting means that many remain unexplained or officially misclassified.
The majority of migrant deaths—sometimes up to 70-80%—are officially classified as “natural causes,” often without thorough investigation, and families seldom receive accurate or complete information.
Many cases involve workers collapsing at the workplace, indicating possible links to overwork, heat stress, heart failure, or undiagnosed occupational illnesses.
Image Source: https://www.instagram.com/
There are widespread critiques that medical and government certificates fail to capture the real cause of death and that compensation for affected families is rare.
Emergency Response and Oversight
An independent review commissioned by Neom found the project’s emergency services to be lacking a cohesive strategic plan, exposing staff and contractors to catastrophic risks.
Law enforcement and emergency responses at Neom camps have been insufficient. While Neom management claims adherence to international safety standards and ongoing improvements, external audits reveal enforcement gaps and minimal consequences for breaches.
Human Rights and Future Implications
Saudi Arabia has launched some policy reforms, but enforcement is lacking and abuses persist across many of its “giga-projects”.
Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Walk Free document widespread exploitation, wage theft, excessive working hours, and missing workers.
Advocacy groups predict continuing problems as Neom is set to host
major events like the FIFA World Cup 2034, likely increasing worker numbers and risks.
Image Source: https://www.statista.com/
“Overall, Neom’s rapid pace and scale have created a work environment marked by serious safety risks, weak labor protections, and systemic abuse for vulnerable migrant workers.”
Mitigation Measures
These measures, when combined as part of a comprehensive occupational health and safety plan, effectively reduce worker exposure to environmental hazards , enhancing overall safety and productivity at Saudi Arabia’s Neom megaproject.
Heat Stress Reduction:
Provide shaded or air-conditioned rest areas.
Establish work-rest cycles and rotate workers between hot and cooler tasks to limit prolonged heat exposure.
Schedule strenuous tasks during cooler parts of the day (early morning or late afternoon).
Encourage adequate hydration with easily accessible water stations and mandatory hydration breaks.
Use breathable, lightweight, and light-colored clothing to improve airflow and reduce heat retention.
Provide cooling gear such as cooling vests, bandanas, hats with neck flaps, and phase change cooling packs.
Gradually acclimatize new or returning workers to hot conditions over 1-2 weeks.
Use fans or ventilation to enhance convective and evaporative cooling at work sites or rest areas.
Train workers and supervisors to recognize heat stress symptoms and implement emergency response plans.
Dust Control:
Use water sprays or misting systems on dust-prone surfaces to prevent dust from becoming airborne.
Apply chemical dust suppressants where feasible.
Implement local exhaust ventilation or vacuum systems in enclosed or specific work areas.
Manage water effectively to reduce dust generation, especially in construction and mining environments.
Water Stress Mitigation:
Ensure sufficient clean water supply for drinking and cooling purposes.
Provide electrolyte solutions to help replenish salts lost through sweating.
Educate workers on the importance of regular hydration, even before feeling thirsty.
Key Recommendations
To prevent future worker deaths at Saudi Arabia’s Neom megaproject, the following recommendations are suggested, combining best practices observed globally and Neom’s commitments:
Strengthen Safety Culture and Enforcement
- Embed a culture of safety as a core value at all levels, ensuring workers feel empowered to report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.
- Enforce strict adherence to international health and safety laws and standards.
- Conduct frequent audits and inspections by independent third parties to verify compliance and effectiveness of safety protocols.
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Protections
- Implement zero-tolerance policies on harassment and discrimination.
- Establish clear reporting and redress mechanisms.
- Train all workers and supervisors on respectful workplace conduct.
Improve Training and Awareness
- Provide comprehensive safety training to all workers and supervisors using innovative technologies to enhance hazard recognition and emergency response skills.
- Promote ongoing education on use of personal protective equipment, machinery operation, and accident prevention techniques.
Enhance Working Conditions
- Limit work hours; provide mandatory breaks and enforce rest periods.
- Ensure worker accommodations include properly equipped health clinics and well-being facilities for timely medical care and mental health support.
- Implement smart safety technologies such as IoT-enabled helmets and proximity alert systems to monitor worker health and prevent accidents.
Timely and Full Payment of Wages
- Employers must pay wages on time and in full, with reliable wage protection systems monitoring compliance to prevent wage theft or delayed payments.
Transparent Incident Reporting and Accountability
- Establish a robust whistleblower policy allowing workers and subcontractors to report unsafe practices confidentially.
- Investigate all accidents, injuries, and near-misses thoroughly, publish transparent reports, and take corrective actions promptly.
Respect Worker Mobility and Contractual Rights
- Convert temporary contracts beyond 90 days into full employment contracts, allowing workers to change employers and exit the country without prior employer approval, increasing worker agency and security.
Regulatory and Contractual Measures
- Ensure all contractors comply with Saudi labor laws and international conventions addressing occupational safety and workers’ rights.
- Prohibit wage theft, forced labor, and restrictions on job mobility, providing workers with legal protections and support.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Continuously update and rehearse emergency response plans tailored to the unique hazards of the site.
- Equip emergency teams with advanced communication tools and medical supplies to rapidly respond to accidents or health crises.
Implementing these recommendations can greatly reduce risks and fatalities at Neom by fostering a safer, healthier, and more accountable work environment.
Join Us!
Together we take the next step to create a world where every worker returns home safely at the end of each day.
To achieve this, we aim to educate, inform, and inspire both employees and employers about the best practices in occupational health and safety.
Join us and unlock a world of online courses in Mechanical Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Fire Safety, and Environment and Sustainability. Propel your career to new heights.
Propel your career to new heights.
Connect now and take the next step toward professional excellence!
+91 7569034271
Let’s connect together on: Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
