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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Qatar’s world cup ‘slaves’: our readers respond | |
| (4 days later) | |
| Reaction from the Middle East: | Reaction from the Middle East: |
| This has been the conditions in Qatar for the past 30 years. Modern day slavery is rampant across the country. If you visit the Souq's on Bank street on a Friday, one can see these laborers and get a first hand response on how they have been abused for years. The guttwrenching part is, none, not even ground breaking evidence nor reports by the International media is going to change the kafala system, the single cause of modern day slavery! | This has been the conditions in Qatar for the past 30 years. Modern day slavery is rampant across the country. If you visit the Souq's on Bank street on a Friday, one can see these laborers and get a first hand response on how they have been abused for years. The guttwrenching part is, none, not even ground breaking evidence nor reports by the International media is going to change the kafala system, the single cause of modern day slavery! |
| jubbah said: | jubbah said: |
| I work in the Middle East, and see these types of men every day. They chop down trees with axes in 40c heat. They are sent to fix plumbing with a tool kit consisting of nothing more than a spanner and hammer. They sit or sleep beneath blue tarps during tea breaks, visibly baking in the heat … many expats try to help these poor men by giving them food and water, paying for their bread and juice at the checkout, letting them wash our cars for a few quid, handing them our belongings when we leave, etc. Guilt money? You could say that. But my motivation to come here is the same as theirs. I come from a country that has no work for me. | I work in the Middle East, and see these types of men every day. They chop down trees with axes in 40c heat. They are sent to fix plumbing with a tool kit consisting of nothing more than a spanner and hammer. They sit or sleep beneath blue tarps during tea breaks, visibly baking in the heat … many expats try to help these poor men by giving them food and water, paying for their bread and juice at the checkout, letting them wash our cars for a few quid, handing them our belongings when we leave, etc. Guilt money? You could say that. But my motivation to come here is the same as theirs. I come from a country that has no work for me. |
| arjanvogt chimed in on the role of the expat community: | arjanvogt chimed in on the role of the expat community: |
| It has always appeared to me that expats consider themselves a different species from immigrants … they live in their own communities, send their kids to international schools, shop in their own shops … I am speaking from experience, as someone who has lived in different countries. As a nurse/nursing manager, I have always fallen between the expat and legal immigrant community, a position I am happy with. | It has always appeared to me that expats consider themselves a different species from immigrants … they live in their own communities, send their kids to international schools, shop in their own shops … I am speaking from experience, as someone who has lived in different countries. As a nurse/nursing manager, I have always fallen between the expat and legal immigrant community, a position I am happy with. |
| Chewda told us about recent wage protests in Qatar: | Chewda told us about recent wage protests in Qatar: |
| Some Qatar schools have seen recent industrial action by south asian drivers of a local bus firm protesting about non-payment of wages and wage inequality against regional Arabs with the same jobs. Although their fate is not clear. It is believed all were arrested and are about to be deported | Some Qatar schools have seen recent industrial action by south asian drivers of a local bus firm protesting about non-payment of wages and wage inequality against regional Arabs with the same jobs. Although their fate is not clear. It is believed all were arrested and are about to be deported |
| jackmack116a’s comment highlighted the need for migrant workers in Qatar: | jackmack116a’s comment highlighted the need for migrant workers in Qatar: |
| The Government's Qatarisation scheme (to make companies employ up to 10% Qataris) has failed abysmally. So the country will continue to need to employ expats and migrant workers probably for the next 100 years. But what happens when people stop going there because of this modern day equivalent of slavery? | The Government's Qatarisation scheme (to make companies employ up to 10% Qataris) has failed abysmally. So the country will continue to need to employ expats and migrant workers probably for the next 100 years. But what happens when people stop going there because of this modern day equivalent of slavery? |
| Reaction from Nepal: | Reaction from Nepal: |
| Pokhra said: | Pokhra said: |
| There are people and organisations fighting against this terrible exploitation. Unfortunately corruption starts in Nepal and Qatar conveniently overlooks how the workers were recruited and how they arrived in country - they are debt bonded by dishonest and corrupt agents before leaving home with debts equaling several times the national average wage borrowed at extortionate rates.Qatar then compounds the misery for gain. | There are people and organisations fighting against this terrible exploitation. Unfortunately corruption starts in Nepal and Qatar conveniently overlooks how the workers were recruited and how they arrived in country - they are debt bonded by dishonest and corrupt agents before leaving home with debts equaling several times the national average wage borrowed at extortionate rates.Qatar then compounds the misery for gain. |
| ggguardian said: | ggguardian said: |
| Although I hated FIFA's decision to award 2022 world cup to Qatar, I felt it would be a good thing for Nepal because of increased demands to expand the infrastructure in the region. Our country has been marred with political instability and corruption, and employment opportunities within the country are rare. A major part of our country's economy is reliant upon remittances received from immigrant workers. As a Nepali citizen, I was aware of the discrimination and harassment immigrant workers faced there but I did not know the severity of this problem … our government agencies and these consulting companies and recruiters are not held accountable …. Government officials in both countries could do so much to avoid this gross violation of labor and human rights. I do not want my country to wait for Qatari administration to take action because it is never going to happen. | Although I hated FIFA's decision to award 2022 world cup to Qatar, I felt it would be a good thing for Nepal because of increased demands to expand the infrastructure in the region. Our country has been marred with political instability and corruption, and employment opportunities within the country are rare. A major part of our country's economy is reliant upon remittances received from immigrant workers. As a Nepali citizen, I was aware of the discrimination and harassment immigrant workers faced there but I did not know the severity of this problem … our government agencies and these consulting companies and recruiters are not held accountable …. Government officials in both countries could do so much to avoid this gross violation of labor and human rights. I do not want my country to wait for Qatari administration to take action because it is never going to happen. |
| It's a shame. Yes, not that much new story for Nepalese people but someone should have shouted it to the rest of the world, seems this story is a bit of it. Nepal is itself in a transition of political instability so from its weakening status and the problematic scene of diplomatic relation, the migrant workers from Nepal are in danger, and in life threatening stage. But, in the name of development, no nation can exploit any workers from the world, they should be sorry for it. And thanks for the revealing it to the rest :) | It's a shame. Yes, not that much new story for Nepalese people but someone should have shouted it to the rest of the world, seems this story is a bit of it. Nepal is itself in a transition of political instability so from its weakening status and the problematic scene of diplomatic relation, the migrant workers from Nepal are in danger, and in life threatening stage. But, in the name of development, no nation can exploit any workers from the world, they should be sorry for it. And thanks for the revealing it to the rest :) |
| You raise a good point. In many cases working conditions, in terms of health and safety on a building site, are worse in Nepal than Qatar, BUT the workers in Nepal do not generally have huge debts they must repay, they have not been deceived about the work they have signed up for, they are always free to leave and find another job, and they are not living in appalling conditions. But it's complicated of course - the main reason Nepalese look abroad for jobs is because there just aren't enough in Nepal. Some figures suggest there is 40% youth unemployment here. | You raise a good point. In many cases working conditions, in terms of health and safety on a building site, are worse in Nepal than Qatar, BUT the workers in Nepal do not generally have huge debts they must repay, they have not been deceived about the work they have signed up for, they are always free to leave and find another job, and they are not living in appalling conditions. But it's complicated of course - the main reason Nepalese look abroad for jobs is because there just aren't enough in Nepal. Some figures suggest there is 40% youth unemployment here. |
| Others discussed the implications for the 2022 World Cup: | |
| jackmack116a said: | jackmack116a said: |
| Of course the plight of migrant workers in places like Qatar, Dubai etc etc is not new and it is very easy and convenient for us westerners to park it at the back of our minds but I think the media has a duty to remind us every so often that exploitation/slavery or whatever you want to call it, hasn't gone away. So maybe it's not new, but it is still nonetheless an important issue and because of the hullabaloo over Qatar getting the World Cup, it's a story that every footballing nation should have an interest in. | Of course the plight of migrant workers in places like Qatar, Dubai etc etc is not new and it is very easy and convenient for us westerners to park it at the back of our minds but I think the media has a duty to remind us every so often that exploitation/slavery or whatever you want to call it, hasn't gone away. So maybe it's not new, but it is still nonetheless an important issue and because of the hullabaloo over Qatar getting the World Cup, it's a story that every footballing nation should have an interest in. |
| riddlemestupid raised an interesting point about the capacity of countries to host big tournaments: | riddlemestupid raised an interesting point about the capacity of countries to host big tournaments: |
| So only developed countries should host it? | So only developed countries should host it? |
| I'm South African & the World Cup was one of the highlights of my life. It brought people from all walks of life together & was an event that unified all the races here. It was a welcome change to my daily life which in SA unfortunately, is either black or white. | I'm South African & the World Cup was one of the highlights of my life. It brought people from all walks of life together & was an event that unified all the races here. It was a welcome change to my daily life which in SA unfortunately, is either black or white. |
| Having said that though, the expense of the stadiums together with the massive construction scandal recently uncovered is a blight. That money could have been spent on the upliftment of the poor via infrastructure & social projects. But, on the other hand, the transport infrastructure created & upgraded is useful for all of us. | Having said that though, the expense of the stadiums together with the massive construction scandal recently uncovered is a blight. That money could have been spent on the upliftment of the poor via infrastructure & social projects. But, on the other hand, the transport infrastructure created & upgraded is useful for all of us. |
| On balance though, I'm glad we hosted. | On balance though, I'm glad we hosted. |
| And some turned their attention to broader problems around modern-day slavery: | And some turned their attention to broader problems around modern-day slavery: |
| Sandrovic said: | Sandrovic said: |
| This is a worldwide problem. The exact same thing happens to migrant workers from Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tadjikistan working in Russia, for example. The problem is all the disparities in the world economic system, not just labour markets - disparities artificially created and continued by the existing order enforced by the World Trade Organisation. Change must come from the top down, not from the bottom up. | This is a worldwide problem. The exact same thing happens to migrant workers from Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tadjikistan working in Russia, for example. The problem is all the disparities in the world economic system, not just labour markets - disparities artificially created and continued by the existing order enforced by the World Trade Organisation. Change must come from the top down, not from the bottom up. |
| notmuch said: | notmuch said: |
| The brokers are the ones that are making money by lying and selling bogus contracts to people who have sold land to try and make a living. The worker thinks he's going to work in a specific trade and is too good to do manual labour the foreman/manager has seen it all before and systematically holds back payment knowing it will have an impact on the workers family and the worker has no choice but to work as a labourer. | The brokers are the ones that are making money by lying and selling bogus contracts to people who have sold land to try and make a living. The worker thinks he's going to work in a specific trade and is too good to do manual labour the foreman/manager has seen it all before and systematically holds back payment knowing it will have an impact on the workers family and the worker has no choice but to work as a labourer. |
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