Exploitation and Injustice Continue: The Fate of Migrant Workers in Post-World Cup Qatar

Qatar: Six Months Post-World Cup, Migrant Workers Suffer

June 16, 2023 10:30AM EDT

[Beirut] – Six months after the 2022 World Cup final in Doha, FIFA and Qatari authorities have failed to provide compensation for widespread abuses, including wage theft and unexplained deaths of migrant workers who prepared and delivered the tournament, Human Rights Watch said today.

Background and Labor Conditions

The 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar was met with widespread criticism and controversy, largely stemming from the treatment of the migrant workers responsible for constructing the tournament infrastructure. Qatar‘s labor reforms were heavily scrutinized, and promises of improved conditions and better protections for workers were made by both Qatari authorities and FIFA. However, six months after the final match, it is clear that these promises have not been fulfilled.

Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with two dozen Indian, Kenyan, and Nepali migrant workers who are currently working in Qatar or have returned to their home countries within the past year. These workers have reported a significant slowdown in the post-World Cup labor market, leading to wage theft and other forms of exploitation. Many workers have been asked by employers to wait idly for new work, sometimes for months, without being paid. Some workers have been prohibited from changing jobs, even when they were not being paid or were severely underpaid.

The failure to provide compensation for past abuses and the worsening wage theft and exploitation faced by migrant workers after the World Cup is a stark reminder of the inadequacies of Qatar‘s labor reforms. It also underscores the shameful human rights legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Both Qatari authorities and FIFA have failed to provide remedy, including financial compensation, to the migrant workers who faced serious abuses during the construction of the tournament infrastructure.

Misleading Claims by Qatari Authorities and FIFA

Before the 2022 tournament, Qatari authorities and FIFA made grossly inaccurate and misleading claims about the effectiveness of Qatar’s labor protection systems and compensation mechanisms. They claimed that existing systems and policies would adequately protect migrant workers from wage theft and other widespread abuses. However, the evidence now clearly shows that these claims were misleading and used to deflect criticism when the international spotlight was on Qatar.

For example, Qatar‘s Labor Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino both made public statements claiming that the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund would take care of compensation. However, even workers who came forward with evidence of wage theft have not received compensation from Qatari authorities. The promises of compensation made to these workers by both Qatari authorities and FIFA have been empty.

Migrant Workers Trapped in Qatar

The failure to provide compensation and address wage theft has left many migrant workers trapped in Qatar. They are fearful of losing the large end-of-service benefits owed to them if they leave, and they are currently unpaid and without work. Many workers have been instructed by their employers to wait until their company wins new projects, further prolonging their suffering.

The situation is particularly dire for workers who have outstanding end-of-service benefits and unpaid wages. One worker interviewed by Human Rights Watch is owed more than a dozen years’ worth of end-of-service benefits and unpaid wages totaling over $20,000. He expressed his frustration and desperation, saying, “[This] is not sustainable as I have to send money to my family. I heard that the company is trying to get new projects, but there is no certainty when things will resume.”

Exploitative Employment Practices

Human Rights Watch research has also indicated that employers in Qatar continue to prohibit migrant workers from transferring jobs, despite Qatari authorities’ claims that these restrictions had been removed. Reforms in 2020 removed the requirement for migrant workers to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from their existing employer to change jobs. However, in practice, migrant workers are still required to obtain signed letters from their employers approving their resignation, which serves as a de facto NOC.

Even in cases where workers have no work assignments or have not been paid their salaries, employers have refused to approve and sign their resignation letters. This creates a situation where workers are effectively trapped, unable to leave their exploitative employment and seek better opportunities elsewhere.

The lack of support from Qatari authorities and the failure to provide effective remedies for wage abuses has discouraged many workers from filing formal complaints. They have seen their colleagues face unnecessary difficulty and financial strain while pursuing legal action, with no tangible support in return.

FIFA’s Role and Responsibility

FIFA has also failed to address or remedy these serious abuses, despite earning a record $7.5 billion in revenue from the tournament. The organization has not committed to using the estimated $100 million FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund to compensate the migrant workers who suffered abuse and exploitation during the construction of the tournament infrastructure.

Given FIFA’s economic success and the significant revenue generated from the World Cup, it is inexcusable that they have not taken responsibility for the well-being and compensation of the workers who contributed to their financial success.

A Call for Action

The plight of migrant workers in Qatar, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, is a clear violation of their human rights. The labor reforms promised by Qatari authorities and FIFA have proven to be ineffective in protecting workers from exploitation and abuse.

It is essential that immediate action is taken to provide compensation to these workers and to address the ongoing wage theft and exploitation they face. Qatari authorities must ensure that their labor laws are enforced and that employers are held accountable for their actions. Additionally, FIFA must fulfill its responsibility to provide financial compensation to the workers who suffered during the construction of the tournament infrastructure.

The international community can also play a role in holding Qatar and FIFA accountable. Governments and organizations claiming to advance worker rights should prioritize the protection of migrant workers and demand that Qatar and FIFA fulfill their obligations. The International Labour Organization (ILO) in particular should reconsider its decision to elect Qatar as president of the 111th session of the International Labour Conference, given Qatar‘s patent failures to protect labor rights.

It is crucial that the voices of the migrant workers are heard and that their rights are upheld. The legacy of the 2022 World Cup cannot be one of exploitation and injustice.

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