Special Report: Allegations of Worker Mistreatment at Newcastle United Sponsor Noon
Irfan, a migrant worker from Pakistan, shares his harrowing experience of mistreatment and abuse while working at a supply company providing labor for Noon, the Gulf’s largest online retailer and Newcastle United’s sleeve sponsor. Irfan recounts being deprived of promised wages, subjected to physical abuse, and forced to endure inhumane working conditions. Despite facing threats and coercion, Irfan speaks out about the injustices he and fellow workers have suffered.
Multiple allegations of worker mistreatment within Noon’s supply chain have been uncovered by The Athletic, including physical abuse, wage withholding, deceptive recruitment practices, and discriminatory treatment. Workers like Sara, Rohit, and Nancy describe being treated as machines or animals, rather than human beings, and enduring exploitative conditions that amount to modern slavery.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified various indicators of forced labor present in Noon’s supply chain, prompting concerns from human rights organizations like Anti-Slavery International and Amnesty International. The allegations raise serious questions about Noon’s ethical practices, as well as the roles of its partners Newcastle United and Manchester City in upholding human rights standards.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, both Newcastle United and Manchester City have refrained from commenting on the issue, raising concerns about the adequacy of due diligence processes in sponsorship agreements. The Premier League, which claims to have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, is urged to address the allegations and take necessary action to protect workers’ rights.
Individual testimonies from workers like Wilson, Nabeel, and Sajjad shed light on the harsh realities faced by migrant workers employed through supply companies linked to Noon. These workers recount experiences of deception, exploitation, and abusive working conditions, highlighting systemic failures within the Gulf’s labor system.
The stories of Rishabh and Rohit, former employees of Namshi acquired by Noon, further emphasize the deteriorating conditions faced by workers post-acquisition. The reduction of salaries, lack of benefits, and increased pressure to meet targets have created a toxic work environment, leading to mental and physical distress among employees.
The close ties between Newcastle United’s owners and Noon raise concerns about the club’s complicity in human rights abuses within its sponsorship network. Calls for rigorous due diligence, accountability, and action to address worker exploitation are echoed by human rights organizations and advocacy groups.
As the spotlight shines on Noon’s supply chain practices, the football industry faces a reckoning with the human cost of sponsorship deals and the need to prioritize ethical standards over profit margins. The stories of migrant workers like Irfan, Wilson, and Rishabh underscore the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and justice in safeguarding the rights and dignity of all workers involved in the global supply chain.