Appalling treatment for workers in FIFA stadium sites in Qatar, accuses Amnesty
A controversial latest report released by Amnesty International accuses Qatar of using forced labour in its FIFA world cup construction sites and a downright abuse of human rights.
Amnesty International’s report contains interviews of 132 workers toiling over the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha and also a 102 landscapers who work in the Aspire Zone sports complex that surrounds it.
All the workers, the report claims, who were interviewed were able to relate to human rights abuses of one kind or another in the work sites.
In fact, BBC further mentions that, “Amnesty says workers at Khalifa International Stadium are forced to live in squalid accommodation, pay huge recruitment fees and have had wages withheld and passports confiscated”.
Although the Qatari law prohibits retention of passports, delayed payment of wages or deceptive recruitment, amnesty has found evidence that such practices were fairly common from February 2015 when the interviews were conducted.
Of the workers interviewed, the majority had their passports confiscated, 88 had been prohibited from leaving Qatar and many had reported that their wages had been paid in three or four months in arrears.
BBC further says that one Indian metal worker was threatened by his employer when he complained about not being paid for several months.
"He just shouted abuse at me and said that if I complained again I'd never leave the country," the worker said.
"Ever since I have been careful not to complain about my salary or anything else. Of course, if I could I would change jobs or leave Qatar."
Another metal worker from Nepal described his work life in Qatar like that in a “prison”.
“Some of the Nepali workers told Amnesty they were not allowed to visit their families after the earthquake last April that killed thousands and left millions displaced”, says BBC.
Last year the Qatari government has agreed to change its Kafala system where expats cannot leave the country or change jobs without the sponsor’s permission.
Now, the State has said that it’s concerned by the accusations and that the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs would investigate the contractors named in the report.
It is so simple to implement laws, rules & regulations few are really tough in practical. But we are human beings we born to make few mistakes, As far as it doesn't effect the society or nature the government can show some mercy.
The workers who is left their family and live in a Desert life have one reason "Salary" that should be paid on time. Give decent Accomodation & Food (Basic need of any human being) most of them eating Kaboos and Pepsi.
Allow them to keep their passport in banks if it is safety reason. Make exist permission little easier. Educate them for a brighter future, most of them have some dreams to achieve something.
Without these Labours NO BIG Vision can be achieved by any company or country.
I think Baladiya like raids into these construction, contracting & labour companies would take down some amount of labour crimes. It is well known that these companies deploy labourers that are not in their visa, but of some other company's visa.
Brit: Yes he isn't blameless either; ignorance of how his company is being run isn't valid justification but I'd still go after the people who are on the ground inflicting the pain...
Mohdata: I agree with your points - but at the end of the day the owner takes profits so must take the blame
The way I see it and the stories I've heard from friends who work in some of these contracting companies; the owner of the company frequently doesn't have any idea of how management is running the company; and it is these heartless and self serving management figures who mercilessly exploit people and fill their own greedy pockets; they steal from the owner and they steal from the workers; they're the worst kind of human beings and the kind I'm sure will be held to a just reckoning by god... Their own salaries are in their accounts in full on payday and the workers starve for months... When its time to cut costs, it does not occur to them to halve their own salary for a while and instead, they terminate without warning, hundreds of workers... No end of service settlements, no time to prepare... Pack your bags and leave... I'm sorry but god is watching and this country cannot truly be blessed and prosper unless it rediscovers it's true just soul and goes after these cruel thieving middle management guys... It's them who bear the primary burden of the tears of the poor sweat soaked sunburnt labourer and if I was god, I'd reserve the worst of my wrath for them and for other people who usurp the rights of others...
WT: this means that the perceptions of AI and the local authorities could both be different and both correct ?
Hi to all would u pls pay attention to all karwa bus driver mostly school bus driver that they are not allowed to cock in school during work hours its danger to driver to drive with out any breakfast until lunch pls help the school bus driver all the parents pls help the driver of ur children to be safe in journey
There is no single "truth", LL. What we perceive is "true" for us. Unfortunately everybody perceives things in his own way. There can only be 'consensus' on something that seems to be beneficial. But don't ask for the "truth".
@By Lucky Luciano.
According to Qatar Labour Law, a minor or juvenile shall not be employ by an employer; this simply means all workers in Qatar are all adult, according to the Law.
Now, are you saying as an adult they aren’t capable of keeping their own passport! by the way who is keeping their wallet for them! Ok what about the other workers that does not fall under the low income earner, why are the so called companies not keeping their passport for them!
One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God. Ramakrishna
I can't say why people lie; they just do. Everyone has their own reasons for not telling the truth. Eric Carr
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
retain the passport for SAFE Keeping :)
errand workers might loose their passports when they are zooming Doha streets on Fridays.
I suppose it's just an extra level of control to show the workers that they are at the owner's mercy
BritExpat - spot on.
One thing I find strange is this 'retaining passports'. If you can't leave without an exit permit then why retain the passport what purpose does it serve?
Investigations and committees. I am sure the authorities mean well. The best solution is to get the information from AI. Send inspectors to the concerned sites. If the allegations are true, then shut down the company, pay the workers their full dues to the end of their contracts and jail the owners..
"Now, the State has said that it’s concerned by the accusations and that the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs would investigate the contractors named in the report." - Really? Maybe in 2022 they will have come to a conclusion. Investigations take a long time in Qatar.