Migrants abused ahead WC 2022

Amnesty International reports that migrants from Bangladesh, India and Nepal working on the refurbishment of the showcase Khalifa Stadium and landscaping the surrounding gardens and sporting facilities known as the “Aspire Zone” are being exploited. Some are being subjected to forced labour. They are prohibited to change their jobs and leave the country. They are even being paid late. Meanwhile, FIFA and its sponsors as well as the construction companies involved are set to make massive financial gains from the tournament. 
The Amnesty International has revealed the following factors to be responsible for the workers being exploited. 

1.    Expensive recruitment fees
Many migrants seek work in Qatar to escape poverty and unemployment in countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and India. But to get a job they have to pay high fees.  The workers we spoke to paid amounts ranging from US$500 to US$4,300 to unscrupulous recruitment agents in their home country. Many are in debt, which makes them scared to leave their jobs when they get to Qatar.

2.    Appalling living conditions
Workers often live in cramped, dirty and unsafe accommodation. Men are found to sleep on bunk beds in rooms for eight or more people. But Qatari law and the Workers' Welfare Standards allow for a maximum of four beds per room and prohibit bed sharing and the use of bunk beds.

3.    Lies about salary
Recruitment agents also make false promises about the salary workers will receive, and the type of job on offer. One worker was promised a salary of US$300 a month in Nepal, but this turned out to be US$190 once he started work in Qatar. When workers tell Companies that they were promised higher salaries, they are simply ignored. 

4.    Delayed salaries
Sometimes, salaries are not paid for several months. This can be disastrous – workers are unable to buy food, send money to their family back home or make payments on recruitment-related loans.

5.    Can't leave the stadium or camp
Some employers do not provide or renew residence permits, even though they are required to by Qatari law. These ID cards show that workers are allowed to live and work in Qatar. Without them, workers can be imprisoned or fined. Because of this some of the men working on Khalifa Stadium are scared of venturing beyond the work site or their workers' camp.

6.    Can't leave the country or change jobs
Many workers had their passports confiscated by employers. If they want to leave Qatar they have to get an “exit permit” approved by their company. But employers often ignore these requests or threaten workers.

7.    Threatened
If workers complain about their conditions or seek help, they are often intimidated and threatened by their employers. 

8.    Forced labour
One of the companies supplying workers to Khalifa Stadium subject its employees to forced labour. Workers who refuse to work because of their conditions are threatened with having their pay deducted, or handed over to the police for deportation without receiving the pay they are owed.

Compiled by the Law desk (Source: amnesty.org).