Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 1978)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 2021)

The Committee welcomes the ratification by Saudi Arabia of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. Noting that the first report of the Government has not been received, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the application of the Protocol, in accordance with the report form adopted by the Governing Body.

Representation made pursuant to article 24 of the ILO Constitution. The Committee notes that the Governing Body, at its 352nd Session (November 2024), declared as admissible the representation submitted by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) alleging non-observance of the Convention and its Protocol of 2014 by Saudi Arabia (GB.352/INS/20/8, paragraph 6). The Committee observes that the allegations in the representation refer to issues related to the legal framework regulating the employment relations of migrant workers and abusive practices that amount to forced labour, which were the subject of the Committee’s previous observation. In accordance with its usual practice, the Committee has decided to defer the examination of these issues until the Governing Body adopts its report on the representation.

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. (i) National policy. The Committee notes that Saudi Arabia has developed and implemented a National Action Plan (NAP) built around the four pillars of anti-trafficking: prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership. Building on the 2017–2020 NAP, the 2021–2023 NAP identifies priority areas that are needed to strengthen the trafficking response in the Kingdom and provides action points for the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), which spearheads the country’s response to trafficking. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to implement the four pillars of the NAP and the activities undertaken by the NCCHT to develop a coordinated action to prevent and combat trafficking. It requests the Government to provide information on the assessment of the implementation of the NAP indicating the progress made and challenges encountered.

(ii) Identification and protection of victims. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information regarding the measures taken to identify victims of trafficking, including: (1) the information campaigns undertaken by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) on the indicators issued by the NCCTP on human trafficking, forced labour, exploitation of domestic workers and sexual exploitation; and (2) the workshops organized with foreign embassies to review and discuss the Ministry’s most prominent initiatives, including those to combat human trafficking crimes. Moreover, the Committee takes note of the information regarding the measures taken to implement the national referral mechanism (NRM) for victims of trafficking in persons, including the establishment of a national team to ensure the operationalization of the NRM for the identification of victims of trafficking, their referral to assistance and rehabilitation, follow-up of cases, and the periodic review of the NRM by the NCCTP.

The Committee observes with regret, however, that the Government provides no statistics on the number of victims of trafficking who have been identified and have benefited from these measures. Moreover, the Committee notes that, in its concluding observations of 2024, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), noted with concern the lack of effective procedures for early identification of victims of trafficking, case management and victim protection, limited awareness among police and other law enforcement officers about trafficking indicators, as well as the lack of gender-sensitive protocols for dealing with victims of trafficking, including trafficking for purposes of exploitation or prostitution. CEDAW also noted the limited number of homes and shelters for victims of trafficking, and the lack of support services tailored to the needs of trafficking victims (CEDAW/C/SAU/CO/5).

The Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure the effective identification and protection of victims of trafficking for the purpose of both sexual and labour exploitation. In this regard, it requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken for the proper functioning of the NRM in practice. The Committee further requests the Government to ensure that appropriate and gender-sensitive protection and assistance is provided to all victims of trafficking in persons, including by increasing the support services to this end. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the victims who have been identified and who have benefited from adequate protection, including statistical data.

(iii) Prosecution and application of penal sanctions. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the MHRSD continues to deploy efforts to build the competency of officials in charge of combating crimes related to human trafficking. In this regard, it has provided 18 training sessions to human trafficking monitors, benefiting 645 trainees, between January and June 2023. The Committee notes, however, that the Government indicates that information on the outcome of the 266 cases of trafficking in persons recorded between 2019 and 2020, and on the number of investigations and prosecutions initiated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, 2009, will be communicated once available. In view of the lack of information on legal action resulting in the conviction of those responsible for trafficking, the Committee requests the Government to continue to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement bodies to proactively investigate cases of trafficking in persons. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the number of investigations and prosecutions initiated under the Human Trafficking Act of 2009, including the specific penalties applied to those convicted for trafficking.