Banks and Corporations Linked to Migrant Worker Abuse in Saudi Green Energy Projects
- Human Rights Research Center
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan
October 3, 2025
HRRC condemns the blatant exploitation of migrant workers underpinning Saudi Arabia’s clean energy expansion, where systemic abuses amount to forced labor. Governments, corporations and financiers complicit in these projects must act immediately to end this dehumanization.
![Nepali construction worker on NEOM Green Hydrogen Project [Image source: BHRRC]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_fa1f47c674764e20aa8c95a9655894f0~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_22,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_fa1f47c674764e20aa8c95a9655894f0~mv2.png)
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious clean energy boom is under fire after a new report revealed systemic migrant worker abuse across flagship renewables projects, raising serious questions about the human cost of the global energy transition.
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) found that over half of the 34 Nepali and Bangladeshi workers it interviewed on nine projects reported five or more indicators of forced labor, as defined by the International Labour Organization. Abuses included wage theft, recruitment fee exploitation, extreme heat exposure above 50°C/112°F, restricted freedom of movement, intimidation, dismissal and even deaths on site. Workers described conditions as “Hell” and “like jail,” with average salaries just USD $370 per month, less than half the Saudi minimum wage.
The report linked these violations to some of the world’s largest companies and financiers. Developers and contractors include ACWA Power, Air Products, Saudi Aramco, Larsen & Toubro and PowerChina. Major international banks named as financiers include Standard Chartered, HSBC, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase, Crédit Agricole, Mizuho Financial Group, and Riyad Bank. Standard Chartered, HSBC and others acknowledged social risk frameworks but avoided commenting on specific cases. ACWA Power denied wrongdoing, insisting it follows Saudi and international labor standards.
The findings also highlight broader risks. Worker testimonies suggest retaliation against those who raise complaints, creating a culture of fear. The abuses were consistent across multiple projects, including NEOM’s Green Hydrogen Plant, Sudair and Saad 2 Solar PV sites, and others. Six deaths were reported, alongside numerous injuries and illnesses.
Analysts warn that financiers face not only reputational damage, but also fiscal risks from protests, project delays and scrutiny tied to Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Critics argue the Kingdom is promoting sustainability abroad while masking exploitation at home. “We cannot have an energy transition built on abuse,” said BHRRC researcher Catriona Fraser. “Fair recruitment, safe conditions and decent wages are fundamental to a just transition”.
Glossary
Complicit - Being involved or implicated in something wrong or bad, often with others.
Condemns - To strongly disapprove or criticize something or someone.
Dehumanization - The act of stripping someone of their human qualities, dignity or personality.
Exploitation - Taking unfair advantage of someone or something for personal gain.
Exposure - Being open to view, public attention or risk.
Financiers - People or institutions that provide financial resources or funding.
Fiscal risks - Financial dangers or uncertainties that could impact an organization or economy.
Flagship - The most important or prominent item, project, or product of a group or organization.
Fundamental - Basic, essential or underlying to something.
Kingdom - Saudi Arabia is referred to as the ‘Kingdom’ as it has been governed as an absolute monarchy, with power resting only with the ruling royal family.
Recruitment - The process of finding and hiring new employees or members.
Renewable - Energy sources that are sustainable and can be replenished naturally, like solar or wind energy.
Reputational damage - Harm caused to someone's or an organization's reputation, often due to negative publicity or actions, affecting their credibility or public image.
Retaliation - Taking revenge or responding aggressively to a perceived attack or offense.
Scrutiny - Close examination, inspection, or investigation of something.
Sustainability - Maintaining or supporting something over time without depleting resources or harming the environment.
Systemic abuse - Widespread or deeply ingrained mistreatment or exploitation within a system or organization.
Testimonies - Personal accounts, statements, or evidence given by individuals, often about their experiences.
Transition – A change or shift from one state, condition, or phase to another.
Underpinning - Supporting or strengthening something from beneath, often with evidence or logical reasoning.
Wages - Payments made to workers for their labor or services.
Wrongdoings - Actions or behaviors that are morally or ethically wrong.
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