‘Labour Controversy’:”Allegations of Force Labour Surrounds Newcastle United Sponsor…Read more
“Controversy Surrounds Newcastle United Sponsor Noon Over Allegations of Forced Labor”
Workers employed by Noon, the sponsor of Newcastle United, have allegedly faced severe working conditions that may constitute forced labor, according to a human rights organization. Research by Equidem, released recently, reveals instances of intimidation, threats, wage withholding, and abusive treatment among employees directly and indirectly employed by the online retailer in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Noon, co-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns half of Newcastle United, denies these claims, labeling them as highly inaccurate.
Equidem’s investigation, based on interviews with 47 current and former Noon workers since March, uncovered multiple indicators of forced labor and modern slavery. These include abuse of vulnerability, deception, restricted movement, threats, confiscation of identity documents, wage withholding, debt bondage, harsh working conditions, and unpaid overtime. The organization expresses concern that Newcastle United and the Premier League may not be fulfilling their obligations under the UK Modern Slavery Act.
Newcastle United declined to comment, while affirming on its website a strict stance against slavery and human trafficking, emphasizing ethical business practices and robust systems to prevent such abuses in its supply chains.
Equidem’s report includes testimony from workers such as Ramesh (a pseudonym), a delivery associate in Saudi Arabia, who recounted having wages docked unfairly and facing threats of imprisonment by a manager when requesting to leave his job. Another worker described grueling conditions of continuous 12-hour shifts without breaks, while a Ugandan delivery worker in the UAE reported falling ill due to excessive walking in extreme heat and being unable to take meal breaks due to the pace of their work.
Equidem stated that their investigation should cause concern and noted that Noon’s prominent sponsorship of Newcastle United serves as a constant reminder of a sponsor whose business practices sharply contradict NUFC’s stance on modern slavery.
Noon, a major online retailer in the Middle East, has vehemently denied these accusations. A spokesperson stated, “Noon strongly rejects these claims as highly inaccurate misrepresentations. The company places utmost importance on employee well-being, which is integral to its operations. Noon not only adheres to but surpasses global best practices in its commitment to employee welfare.”
The spokesperson emphasized, “We strictly comply with local health and safety standards and relevant laws, bolstered by rigorous internal and independent audits. Crucially, our approach to employee welfare is informed by real-time insights from advanced data systems.”
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