Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves' Exclusive: Abuse and exploitation of migrant workers

[snagglepuss]

Source: UK Guardian

snip

This summer, Nepalese workers died at a rate of almost one a day in Qatar, many of them young men who had sudden heart attacks. The investigation found evidence to suggest that thousands of Nepalese, who make up the single largest group of labourers in Qatar, face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery, as defined by the International Labour Organisation, during a building binge paving the way for 2022

snip

The investigation also reveals:

• Evidence of forced labour on a huge World Cup infrastructure project.

• Some Nepalese men have alleged that they have not been paid for months and have had their salaries retained to stop them running away.

snip

• Some labourers say they have been denied access to free drinking water in the desert heat.

• About 30 Nepalese sought refuge at their embassy in Doha to escape the brutal conditions of their employment.


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves

[roody]

1. Terrible

[madrchsod]

2. the slave trade never dies...

it`s the slaves that do.

[Crowman1979]

3. Your gas money at work!

I don't know why our military bothers to protect these assholes from being invaded by Iran.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. Qatar is also a big-time funder of the Syrian jihad.

They have a rivalry with the Saudi to see whose army of religious fanatics there will out.

[rpannier]

5. I read the article and the comments from various organizations involved in the situation

I noticed nothing from FIFA about it
This isn't surprising. FIFA is on track to be like the Olympics in terms of corruption. Sepp doesn't really care about how the venues get built as long as they do

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. World Cup organisers are shocked, shocked, I tell you, to find mistreatment of workers

Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers appalled by work conditions

The organising body has also said that the Qatari government will be looking into The Guardian's allegations.
...
"There is no excuse for any worker in Qatar, or anywhere else, to be treated in this manner," a statement read.

BBC Radio 5 live spoke to the chief executive of Qatar 2022, Hassan Al Thawadi, earlier in September before The Guardian's findings were published and asked him about this issue of working conditions.
...
He added that work on World Cup projects had yet to get under way, but when it did contractors would have to abide by a "workers' charter".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24282713

Because no-one has given any protest about this before - oh ....

Date: Friday 24 May 2013

Delegates attending the UEFA Congress in London today (Friday) will be lobbied by unions as part of the campaign to secure better treatment for migrant workers employed on the construction of stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and for foreign footballers currently playing in the Gulf state.

The TUC along with its international equivalent - the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) - is calling on UEFA to address the appalling treatment of workers and players in Qatar and back calls for FIFA to re-run the vote for the 2022 tournament should the Qatari government fail to take any action.

Harsh treatment of migrant workers in Qatar and its government's failure to improve employment rights are the unions' main concerns. Low rates of pay, excessive working hours, a ban on joining unions, poor safety standards and numerous abuses under the country's strict visa sponsorship system have led to accusations that Qatar is acting like a 21st century slave state.

http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-22235-f0.cfm

[Blue_Tires]

10. FIFA is shocked all the way to the bank...

Everyone knows the committee was for sale, and for Qatar of all people to get the votes, they must have offered double the bribe money of the next highest offer...

[jakeXT]

7. They don't even think they can play in the summer time. Not much coverage on Al Jazeera...

Last week, the association representing European clubs said they would not be opposed to a re-scheduling of the tournament but added they wanted to be consulted about the new timing.

Qatar has said, despite the searing temperatures, it can stage the World Cup in the summer by building air-conditioned stadiums using newly environmentally-friendly technology.

Stadiums would be cooled to around 28 Celsius.

However, there are still worries about how fans will deal with the heat away from the stadiums.

http://www.aljazeera.com/sport/football/2013/09/2013919142310285592.html

[marble falls]

8. At least they had work, if they weren't making enough its their own fault for not having ....

a better job or a part time job. So the Tea Party has taken power in Qatar.

[closeupready]

9. Oh, who cares.

Outrageous, but time and again, it doesn't seem like issues relating to modern human slavery get much discussion either in the MSM or on boards like this.

But I'm K&R anyway, I don't care if I'm the last one to do it.

[JCMach1]

11. Typical Gulf construction wages are in the neighborhood of $100 per month, or less

despite local laws in the region, contractors and sub-contractors consistently abuse their workers.