By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar-Pressure is being raised by the United Nations against Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, to end labor abuse.  Qatar has implemented a sponsorship system for migrant workers that is at the root of the abuse.

Migrant workers doing construction in preparation for 2022 FIFA World Cup (photo courtesy of Aljazeera)

“This marks a stain on Qatar’s reputation and is something that can be improved right away,” said Francois Crepeau, a U.N. Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants.   Crepeau reported that living conditions of foreign workers tended to be poor, referencing them to “slums.”

With the World Cup quickly approaching, Qatar has been scrambling to complete major construction and infrastructure projects, increasing the number of its estimated 1.8 million foreigners (88 percent of Qatar’s population) working on projects for the event.

The system that Qatar has implemented prohibits employees from changing jobs or leaving the country without permission from their sponsors, who are frequently labor supply companies or wealth Qatar individuals who provide workers to personal profit businesses.

“A majority of the employee sponsors confiscate their passports for the duration of their contract, placing most of the workers in the construction and domestic work sectors.  Qatari Labor Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

“This system that is used to regulate the relationship between employers and migrant workers, with a work permit linked to a single employer, is problematic and a source of abuse against migrants,” said Crepeau.

Crepeau visited Qatar, meeting with government officials, migrant workers, academics, and Qatar’s National Human Rights committee.  He was able to visit every location that he wished to see and sat down to discuss drafting laws for domestic workers and a blacklist of companies who abuse migrant workers.

Crepeau also certified the establishment of a minium wage, a more developed labor inspection system, and the kafala system, the system that binds workers to a single employer and forbids the to change jobs or acquire an exit visa.

Living conditions were criticized by Crepeau,  “The dwellings I have visited do not conform to Qatari legislation.  I saw bunk beds, which are prohibited.  I saw overcrowding.  I saw very shoddy construction of these camps.  One place in particular had no kitchens…the latrines are, let’s say, minimal.  Access to water was problematic at times.”

In September, dozens of Nepali workers died during the summer in Qatar as laborers were not given enough food and water.  However, Nepal recalled its ambassador from Qatar this past Thursday after she claimed that Qatar was an “open jail” for Nepalis who suffer labor abuses.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera-UN official urges Qatar labour reforms-10 November 2013

Gulf News-UN urges Qatar to improve migrant labour conditions-10 November 2013

Reuters-U.N. expert on labour abuse urges Qatar to end sponsorship system-10 November 2013

Guardian-Qatar under pressure over migrant labour abuse-26 September 2013

Author: Impunity Watch Archive