Saudi Labour Envoy Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al‑Juraidi Linked To Alleged Bribe to Luc Triangle In ITUC Scandal
Brussels — Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al‑Juraidi, a senior Saudi labour official and the kingdom’s key delegate at international labour summits, is facing serious allegations of influence-peddling involving the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), amid longstanding criticism of Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled labour system.
€1.2M Alleged Bribe to ITUC General Secretary
According to sources close to ITUC headquarters in Brussels, Al‑Juraidi is alleged to have paid €1.2 million to Luc Triangle, the ITUC’s General Secretary, in an effort to secure more favourable positioning for Saudi Arabia within international labour forums.
The funds were reportedly linked to the purchase of a home in the Brussels suburbs, acquired by Triangle in 2024. Though no official charges have been filed, the allegations have been informally flagged to Belgian authorities, who are said to be aware of the situation. Both ITUC and Al‑Juraidi have declined to comment publicly.
If verified, the incident would represent one of the most high-profile cases of influence-buying within global labour diplomacy, undermining ITUC’s credibility as the world’s leading voice for workers’ rights.
Who Is Luc Triangle?
Luc Triangle is a Belgian trade unionist and economist, who assumed the role of General Secretary of the ITUC in 2023, succeeding the late Sharan Burrow.
Before that, he served as General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), where he was a key voice on industrial strategy, collective bargaining, and workers’ rights in the EU.
Triangle has long been regarded as a pragmatic negotiator with deep experience in European social dialogue — but critics say his recent tenure has shown signs of political compromise, particularly concerning relationships with repressive regimes.
Al‑Juraidi’s Role: A State-Aligned Labour Representative
As head of the National Committee of Labour Committees in Saudi Arabia, Nasser Al‑Juraidi functions as the kingdom’s principal labour representative at events such as:
• The 113th International Labour Conference (Geneva, 2025)
• The G20 Labour 20 (L20) engagement group
• The 7th International Conference on Occupational Safety & Health (Riyadh)
Despite this international visibility, his role is entirely state-sanctioned. Saudi Arabia bans independent unions, strikes, and collective bargaining. Labour representation is confined to government-approved committees with no real autonomy.
Al‑Juraidi’s presence at global labour summits has been widely viewed by analysts as part of a soft-power strategy to bolster the kingdom’s international image while avoiding structural reforms.
Abuses Still Widespread for Migrant Workers
Although Saudi Arabia has announced limited reforms in recent years, including adjustments to the kafala (sponsorship) system, rights groups argue the changes are mostly cosmetic.
Key issues still include:
• Wage theft: Thousands of workers report months of unpaid salaries.
• Abuse of domestic workers: Many, especially women from Africa and Asia, face overwork, isolation, and physical abuse.
• Suppression of advocacy: Migrants cannot legally organize, protest, or form unions — and risk arrest or deportation for doing so.
The majority of Saudi Arabia’s workforce in the private sector is composed of migrants, yet their working conditions remain precarious, underregulated, and tightly controlled.
Reputation Management vs Reform
Al‑Juraidi’s participation in global forums, combined with the alleged financial scandal, has reignited concerns that Saudi Arabia is engaging in “reform-washing” — presenting the image of labour progress abroad, while maintaining repressive structures at home.
If the €1.2 million transaction is confirmed as a bribe to Luc Triangle, it could suggest deeper efforts by the Saudi state to influence international labour institutions — institutions ostensibly meant to defend the very rights that remain restricted inside the kingdom.
This News is originally published in Olso Times.
