Qatar 2022 World Cup: Forced labour and human rights abuses against migrant workers

August 16, 2022 Off By Michael Jones

Human Rights - Social Gov originally published at Human Rights - Social Gov

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It’s a scandal that has gripped the footballing community over the past 10 years, and which spans far beyond the board rooms in which it was bid for: the 2022 World Cup. In spite of accusations of bribery to have initally won the bidding, Qatar has pushed ahead with construction of 9 new stadiums and the upgrade of 3. This has come at a scandalous cost: according to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), at least 522 Nepalese and more than 700 Indian migrant workers have died since construction began, with Amnesty International and The Guardian predicting that up to 4,000 workers will have died the first World Cup ball is kicked in 2022. Furthermore, extensive human rights abuses have been documented: passports withheld, wages being reduced beyond what was promised, squalid living conditions, forced labour, and blocked exits from the country. Many workers have drawn comparisons between their work and prison life. We sit down to talk to two former workers about the mistreatment they suffered in Qatar.