The World Cup will be held for the first time in the Arab world.
But in the host country Qatar, there are more than two million migrant workers who have not only built football stadiums, but basically all the buildings and roads that tourists and players will see.
You may have heard of the difficult conditions – but what is so reprehensible about the Qatar regime?
Sportbladet allowed AI attorney, Elinor Hagman, to make a five-point list.
The sponsorship system remains
despite Qatar Promised to abolish the sponsorship system, which binds migrant workers to their employers and, among other things, prevents them from changing jobs or leaving the country, there is still much work to be done in practice. Expat workers who wish to change jobs can refuse their applications if they do not provide written consent from their employer, although this is not formally required.
By, among other things, confiscating passports, withholding wages, or threatening to accuse the person of theft or other misconduct, employers can prevent an employee from leaving their job.
Qatar should strengthen its enforcement so that it can argue that the kafala system is abolished. As now, there is a danger that Qatar will hide behind ineffective laws, in order to conceal its true form.
Wages as a means of power
In recent years, several laws have been added to introduce a minimum wage for all migrant workers, regardless of nationality and industry. In addition, mechanisms have been put in place to deal with late or non-payment of salaries. However, the processes for this are unknown to many, and take a very long time.
Many systems do not include domestic workers at all, despite the fact that in many cases they are in a particularly vulnerable position such as living in the employer’s home.
Salary is used as a means of power. If you work and support your family, you do not have time to wait several months for the salary to which you are entitled at a later stage. This makes people vulnerable to forced labour, such as being forced to work on their spare days or in other circumstances that contravene conventions and laws.
forced labor
Laws regulating working hours, a maximum of 60 hours per week with at least one day of paid leave, as well as restrictions on outdoor work during hot summer hours, have been added and expanded since 2017.
However, the balance of power between employers and migrant workers makes it difficult for them to exercise their rights. Sick people who need care or wish to take their statutory leave are affected by salary deductions and other forms of retaliation. Workers from sub-Saharan Africa often face racism and stereotypes, as they are expected to be able to work in higher temperatures for longer periods, and for lower wages.
Amnesty continues to document cases where people work seven days a week, sometimes for several years in a row, including among companies hired by FIFA. Rest is a human right, and in this way punishing or threatening people with forced labor constitutes forced labour.
the death
Thousands of migrant workers have died in Qatar in recent years, without authorities investigating the causes of death. Despite the risks associated with working long days in extreme temperatures, autopsies are rarely performed. Cause of death certificates are routinely issued specifying the cause of death as ‘heart problems’ or ‘natural causes’. Despite the fact that healthcare in Qatar is so developed that the cause of death can be determined in 99 percent of cases, the percentage of unexplained deaths among migrant workers is as high as 70 percent according to statistics accessible to Amnesty International. .
Failure to investigate the causes of death makes it impossible to prevent future deaths, in addition to depriving relatives of their right to compensation. When a young and previously healthy person suddenly dies, Qatar must take responsibility for it. This is particularly true in light of the difficulties that migrant workers face in influencing their working conditions.
Prohibition of organization and achieving justice
Freedom of expression is severely restricted in Qatar and trade unions are strictly prohibited. Labor commissions and courts are unknown to many migrant workers and do not function effectively.
When migrant workers cannot make their voices heard or organize with people in a similar situation without risking dire consequences such as non-payment of wages or revocation of residence permits, it becomes impossible for authorities to verify compliance with the law.
