Saudi Arabia, the likely host of the 2034 World Cup, is facing allegations of widespread use of forced labour among its vast migrant workforce, in a complaint filed at the UN’s International Labour Organization.

The complaint to the ILO alleges that migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are subject to a raft of labour rights violations including failing to pay wages, passport confiscation, illegal recruitment fees, debt bondage and preventing workers freely changing jobs.

The violations amount to “an epidemic of abuses”…

It said they were evidence of forced labour…

The move is likely to put intense pressure on Fifa…

According to Fifa’s bidding rules for the 2030 and 2034 World Cup, countries wishing to host the tournament must commit to “respecting internationally recognised human rights”.

Minky Worden, HRW’s director of global initiatives, said: “The complaint effectively says that Saudi has no meaningful protections against forced labour…

Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, said Fifa “could provide a much-needed spur for labour reform” by demanding binding human rights agreements before making a final decision on the 2034 tournament.

“By failing to do so, it would all but guarantee forced labour being at the heart of its flagship tournament,” he added…

Fifa and the Saudi authorities have been approached for comment.