The organization of the World Cup in Qatar admits that workers have been exploited in recent years. The organization is thus responding to a report by human rights organization Amnesty International, which, after an investigation, states that security guards have been systematically subjected to forced labour.
According to Amnesty, the security guards often worked longer than the maximum 60 hours per week and sometimes had no day off for months or even years. If they did try to take a day off, they were cut in wages or threatened with dismissal, several employees say in the report.
The World Cup organizers say they found out that three companies were breaking the rules at the time of the 2020 Club Team World Cup and the 2021 Arab Cup, both of which were held in Qatar in the run-up to this year’s World Cup. “These violations of the agreements are completely unacceptable,” the statement said.
Blacklist and extra supervision
According to the organization, various measures have been taken. For example, some security companies are monitored more closely. Others have been blacklisted, preventing them from working on future projects, including the World Cup. Reports have also been made to the Qatari Ministry of Labor so that further investigations can be conducted and possible sanctions can be imposed.
But according to Amnesty, the exploitation of workers in Qatar continues. “Despite the progress Qatar has made in recent years, our investigation shows that private sector security officers are still being systematically and structurally exploited,” said the human rights organization, which spoke to 34 employees of 8 security companies.
Thousands killed in stadium construction
The Guardian has also revealed abuses in Qatar in recent years. Last year The British newspaper reported that at least 6,500 people have died among migrant workers since the 2010 World Cup was awarded. This mainly happened in the construction of stadiums.
Last week it became clear that many foreign workers had to pay money to be allowed to work in Qatar. As a result, they put themselves deeply into debt.
Also view this report about working conditions in Qatar:
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