United Nations puts Qatar on notice for slavery violations

Human rights abuses in Qatar, host nation for the 2022 World Cup, have reached the point where the United Nations has taken notice.

The global body’s labour wing, the International Labour Organization (ILO), announced an investigation into Qatar’s treatment of workers, which it would defer until November. At that point, it would potentially launch an investigation into forced labour violations, something we might refer to as slavery in unguarded moments, with a focus on migrant workers.

An article published in the Australian website the World Game runs a subheading:

“Qatar has until November to implement new labour reforms designed to end abuse of migrant workers or potentially face an investigation by an international labour watchdog in the lead up to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

The ILO report itself was pretty dry in a press release given the explosive nature of the issue:

“The Governing Body decides to request the Government of Qatar to continue to provide information … on further measures to effectively implement (a law) relating to the entry, exit and residence of migrant workers.”

The report has come about as the ILO ends the 329th session of its Congress. Item 14 on their agenda concerned violations in Qatar, focusing on the health and safety conditions at the sites and the illegal confiscation of passports, and right to change employer.

Their statement was released on the ILO website.

The ILO governing body decided to:

• (a) request the Government of Qatar to continue to provide information to the Governing Body at its 331st Session (November 2017) on further measures to effectively implement Law No. 21 of 2015 relating to the entry, exit and residence of migrant workers; and to further follow-up on the high-level tripartite delegation’s assessment;
   
• (b) request the Government of Qatar to provide information to the Governing Body at its 331st Session (November 2017) on measures taken to effectively implement Law No. 1 of 4 January 2017 relating to the entry, exit and residence of migrant workers, the Law on Domestic Workers of 8 February 2017 as well as the Law establishing Workers’ Dispute Resolution Committees of 19 October 2016 upon their entry into force and to provide official copies of these three laws to the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations at its forthcoming session (22 November – 9 December 2017);
   
• (c) request the Government of Qatar to continue engaging with the ILO in the elaboration of a technical cooperation programme to support an integrated approach to the annulment of the sponsorship system, the improvement of labour inspection and occupational safety and health systems, and giving a voice to workers and to provide information on such programme  to the Governing Body at its 331st Session (November 2017) for its consideration;
   
• (d) defer further consideration on the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry until its 331st Session (November 2017).

If not satisfied, the ILO could appoint a commission to probe abuses.

If that final report was embarrassing, it could once again put pressure on FIFA to review the award, especially in light of additional concerns about women’s rights in the highly patriarchal dictatorship.

Construction industry dependent on immigrants

Qatar’s massive oil wealth ensures that native Qataris who make up just 10% of the nation’s 2.5 million populace, do not have to do menial jobs like construction.

India, Nepal and Bangladesh are the main contributors to the blue collar work force.

Trade Union activists have long complained that stadium workers are faced by regular violations of basic human rights like squalid living conditions, poor health and safety standards, and passport confiscation.

Robert Booth writing in England’s Guardian noted that the Qataris are already trying to deflect the blame for working conditions in their country:

“The Qatar prime minister, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, reportedly admitted to the ILO that Qatar faced “a big challenge on the labour front”, but he claimed the main issues related to recruitment practices in labour-sending countries.”

It is unlikely the ILO will buy into this hand-wringing remotely especially as the complaint is backed by countries including the UK, France, Canada, and perhaps most interestingly Pakistan, whose nationals are among the most affected.

Anti-slavery activist speaks out on human cost of World Cup

Dr Aidan McQuade is the director of the lobby group Anti Slavery International. In an email to Prost Amerika, he harbored no illusions and doubt that Qatar is not meeting its obligations.

“Slavery and exploitation will be rife in the preparations to the Qatar World Cup until there is freedom of association and workers have the unfettered right to change their employer. Even with the reforms introduced by Qatar, the basic power dynamics that allow employers to enslave workers with impunity remain unchanged.”

He points to the cost in blood already spilled in Qatar building the facilities with early estimates rising into the thousands.

‘The exploitation and abuse that emerges from that systems is already demonstrating itself in the extraordinary death toll on the building sites of Qatar. If things continue as they are the Qatar World Cup could well become the bloodiest sporting event since the Caesar’s organised gladiatorial contests for the amusement of the masses.”

It seems that those workers must hang on until November to see the launch of an investigation which in itself will obviously take time. Meanwhile, while we ponder the rise of ticket prices, Asian working class men will carry on paying the ultimate price for the World Cup.

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