By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar – Francois Crepeau, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, called on Quarter to improve labour relations and respect the rights of migrant workers in the country, which is preparing to host the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.

 

According to the United Nations Qatar should allow workers to organize into unions, abolish the discriminatory “kafala” system, adopt legislation to protect labour rights, and properly enforce existing legislation, to protect workers in the country.

Crepeau said on Sunday that there have been some positive developments for migrant workers but argued that the state must adopt reforms in order to protect the rights of migrant workers in the Country which has the highest ratio of migrant workers in the world.

Migrant workers make up approximately 88% of Qatar’s population. Qatar currently has a high demand for construction workers as the country undertakes several massive development projects including construction projects connected with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Crepeau’s speech came at the end of an 8 day visit to Qatar to investigate allegations of abuses of the rights of migrant workers. The plight of migrant workers in Qatar gained international attention after The Guardian published a report on the issue earlier this fall. During his visit, Crepeau met with government officials, migrant workers, academics, and members of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee.

While Qatar has announced plans to improve conditions of labourers in the country the state has been criticized for failing to enforce existing labour laws meant to protect worker rights. Qatar has fought to keep the images of labour conditions in the country from being seen by the international community. In October the Guardian reported that two German film makers, Peter Giesel the head of a Munich-based production company, and his cameraman Robin Ahne were detained for 27 hours after filming the working conditions of workers in Qatar from the balcony of the Mercure Grand hotel in Doha.

Despite continued concerns about the labour rights situation in Qatar the Fédération Internationale de Football Association organizations has remained committed to house the 20202 World Cup in Qatar. According to FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is “not reversible”.

On Saturday Blatter told reporters in Doha after meeting the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that “There is no doubt that the World Cup in 2022 will be organised in Qatar.”

For More Information Please See:

Al Jazeera – UN official urges Qatar labour reforms – 11 November 2013

Al Jazeera –  UN recommendations on Qatar migrant rights – 10 November 2013

Al Jazeera – Blatter: World Cup in Qatar is not reversible – 9 November 2013

The Guardian – Qatar detained two Germans who filmed World Cup labour conditions – 14 October 2013