The plight of Qatar's migrant workers
Al Jazeera’s Inside Story reports about the fate of migrant workers in Qatar:
A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that foreign workers in Qatar risk serious abuse in the run-up to the 2022 football World Cup.
Qatar is the home of the Al Jazeera satellite television network and is the world’s richest country on a per capita basis.
“The fundamental responsibility rests with the authorities of Qatar …. Last year, 161 Nepali construction workers died … this is a situation of industrial anarchy. The way migrant workers are tricked into binding contracts, almost a form of modern-day slavery, is completely unacceptable.”
– Tim Noonan, a trade union campaigns director
It also has the highest ratio of migrants to citizens in the world.
There are an estimated 1.2 million migrant workers living in the country. Many of them work in the construction sector, and many more will be needed to build the stadiums and other infrastructure required for the 2022 football World Cup.
Based on interviews with 73 migrant workers in Qatar, the HRW report says these migrant workers are at risk of serious abuse and exploitation. Complaints include late or unpaid wages and very poor working and living conditions.
Read more HERE.
Watch the video: