The topic of forced labor has received increased public attention through reporting on the massive expansion of construction projects in Qatar ahead  of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the phenomenon of forced labor is not limited to the Gulf region, which represents only 1.4% of the total forced  labor registered worldwide, compared to 66.6% in the Asia-Pacific region. The highest prevalence is found in the Asia-Pacific region (4 people per 1,000)  and in Europe and Central Asia (3.6 people per 1,000)...

This report discusses the findings of the European Center for Constitutional  and Human Rights’ (ECCHR) investigation into labor abuses and forced labor in the construction sector in the Gulf, with a focus mainly, though not exclusively, on Qatar. It focuses on the legal responsibility of companies, specifically European transnationals, for forced labor along their labor supply chains. It discusses possibilities for holding these actors accountable and structural reasons why cases of labor exploitation and forced labor often enjoy impunity. Based on these findings, using our research from Qatar as an example, it  makes suggestions for civil society advocates and other stakeholders, inclu- ding companies and governments, on how to move forward in the struggle to  eliminate forced labor and other forms of extreme labor exploitation...