Qatar 2022 workers still suffering abuse, says Amnesty

Human rights group Amnesty International has reported that construction operatives working on Qatar’s 2022 World Cup “continue to suffer abuse and exploitation”.

Last month an independent auditor published details of the continuing exploitation of migrant workers across the emirate’s World Cup projects.

Among the findings Amnesty has highlighted are:

• 79% of workers reported paying recruitment fees;
• Contractors making workers work excessive hours, with half not giving them rest days, including one person who worked continuously without a day off for almost five months (148 days);
• 25% of workers at one company said they felt unable to report health and safety concerns for fear of reprisal;
• Four of the 10 contractors surveyed were holding worker’s passports, which is potentially an offence under Qatari law.

Amnesty has previously described Qatar’s response to labour abuses as “woefully insufficient” and “risked being seen as PR stunt”.