An Overview of Qatar's Labor Market - FreedomUnited.org

An Overview of Qatar’s Labor Market

  • Published on
    September 1, 2017
  • Written by:
    Jackie Schmidt
  • Category:
    Anti-Slavery Activists, Forced Labor, Law & Policy, Worker Empowerment
Hero Banner

Since Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it has become a frantic race to accommodate the millions of fans who will visit the country for the popular games.  Construction began to build hotels and stadiums and ports and mass transport systems.

“According to 2013 reports, the Qatari government budgeted $200 billion to prepare for the World Cup. FIFA 2022 in Qatar has sparked one of the biggest construction booms in modern-day history. Importing foreign manpower was the only way Qatar could meet its massive infrastructure requirements in time for the games. Even before the building boom was spurred by the FIFA contract, labor rights groups were already critical of Qatar’s labor practices pockmarked by unpaid wages, dangerous working conditions, and sub-standard living arrangements for foreign workers.”

A Refugee and Migrant Rights officer for Amnesty International, Fabien Goa, recently said, “FIFA only magnified these unfair labor practices.”

This article by Rappler presents a snapshot of Qatar’s labor conditions and some of the issues migrant workers face.

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

stop icon A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

This week

Migrant workers jailed in Qatar over demands for owed wages

Five months on from the World Cup final, migrant workers continue to report exploitative labor practices and mistreatment at the hands of Qatari authorities. Three former security guards have been jailed in Qatar for four months following their repeated requests for unpaid wages from their employer, Stark Security Services. Though lauded by FIFA as an opportunity to improve Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, workers who toiled to make the world’s

| Friday May 26, 2023

Read more