Qatar’s Labour Ministry said in a September 18 written response to Human Rights Watch questions on this issue that workers were detained in the August 14 strike for “violating Qatar’s public security laws,” but stated that they were not criminally prosecuted and that the government “facilitated the voluntary return” of some of the workers after their unpaid wages and benefits were paid through the ministry’s Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund. Rights groups have reported that the Qatari government deported at least 60 migrant workers for protesting in August. “After nine years of work, I had to leave the country like a criminal.” He was eventually paid his salary and end of service benefits, but only after being “hand-cuffed like a criminal” by Qatari authorities while being brought to his room to pick up his passport. I would have never paid that amount if I had known that I would have to return in 15 months.”Ī former Al Bandary Engineering Trading and Contracting (W.L.L) worker said Qatari authorities arrested him for protesting with a group of other workers on August 14, held in a detention center, and deported him after 20 days. Though he was paid his salary in full from the Ministry of Labour’s Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, along with return airfare, he said, “I paid almost $1,200 for this job. “This was our attempt to draw attention of the main company’s mudir, who is otherwise absent, and government authorities,” he added. “After repeated salary delays, we agreed among ourselves that if we were not paid by the 25th every month, we would remain in our rooms and avoid work until our payment was released.” However, when this tactic did not work, he and his colleagues decided to publicly protest. But, they say, when salary delays persist, migrant workers protest in streets, sometimes in front of government buildings or a company’s headquarters, or even block traffic.Īnother migrant worker described protesting on what he recalled to be July 25. When companies fail to pay them for months, they decide to stay in their accommodation and refuse to show up for work. Workers told Human Rights Watch that strikes occur in phases. Unfortunately, neither is guaranteed in Qatar, especially if you land a bad employer.”
Regular work, and regular pay for work completed. “With weeks to go for the World Cup, especially as construction work in Qatar winds down or temporarily halts, FIFA and Qatari authorities should ensure worker wages and benefits are paid on time and in full instead of penalizing them for asking for what is rightfully theirs.”Ī migrant worker told Human Rights Watch, “There are two things we need. “Migrant worker strikes and protests in Qatar are an act of desperation for workers demanding action on wage theft,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. Qatari authorities confirmed that they detained and facilitated the “voluntary return” of workers who had joined the August 14 strike for “violating Qatar’s public security laws” and said they have taken legal action against two companies for wage abuse.
One migrant worker said he was detained on August 14 with a group of other protesters and deported after 20 days. Other workers with short-term visas participated in strikes after companies told them they were sending them home before their two-year employment contract had ended. Most migrant workers told Human Rights Watch that they had participated in strikes to protest wage theft as employers’ fail to pay wages on time, sometimes for months. FIFA and Qatari authorities should also tackle underlying wage abuse grievances including by supporting a remedy fund to comprehensively address this problem.īetween April and September 2022, Human Rights Watch interviewed 32 migrant workers from India, Kenya, and Nepal who recently participated in or planned strikes, which are prohibited in Qatar. (Beirut) – FIFA and Qatari authorities should ensure that migrant workers who have made the Qatar Men’s World Cup 2022 possible receive their full wages and benefits and are neither arrested nor deported for participating in protests, Human Rights Watch said today. They had paid upward of US$1,138 as recruitment fees. Former short-term visa holders who had signed 2-year employment contracts but were sent back to Nepal within months.
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