Rush to renewables: Toward migrant worker rights and a just energy transition in the Gulf
Rush to renewables: Toward migrant worker rights and a just energy transition in the Gulf
26 November 2024
No region is immune to the reality of the climate crisis: extreme weather events, mass climate-induced migration, and direct consequences for the cultures, livelihoods, and lives of workers and communities In response, even the world’s most notorious petrostates have rightly joined the global effort to avert climate catastrophe Between 2013 and 2022, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – grew renewable energy production from “close to zero” to 56GW: 10% of all renewable energy production in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region By 2030, every GCC member is committed to at least partial reliance on renewables, requiring a rapid rise in private sector investment and installation.
But in a region ranking among the lowest on all human rights indices and depending heavily on a vulnerable migrant workforce, business focus on the rights of the workers who will enable this critical renewables expansion – and related corporate profit – must rise in commensurate measure.
As this analysis by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and Equidem establishes, however, the sector risks falling woefully short in identifying and mitigating worker rights risks, even as it expands at pace. If the opportunity of a just transition is to be realised – through commitment to human rights due diligence, respect for worker rights and fair negotiations, and shared prosperity – embedding migrant worker rights in business operations is non-negotiable.
Grounded in migrant workers’ experience, the report includes:
- A mapping of the renewable energy industry landscape across the six GCC countries, identifying the companies awarded work to develop, construct and maintain solar, wind and green hydrogen facilities, highlighting the many global renewable energy companies operating or planning to operate in the Gulf;
- An illustrative country case study, based on migrant worker testimony exposing abusive working conditions in the renewable energy sector, including on solar and wind farms, energy retail and parts distribution in the UAE;
- An analysis of how top renewables companies’ policy commitments measure up against the human rights standards most relevant to migrant workers and a just transition, highlighting better performers as well as key policy gaps in the sector as it capitalises on the opportunity of GCC renewables expansion