New research by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, which can be read here, showed most major brands have “limited understanding” of the situation or what they should be doing.

The industry will be a key facilitator of this World Cup, accommodating up to one million visiting supporters and all involved figures, but the issue of fees is seen as a “key driver” of abuse.

With workers reporting payment of anything between $500 and 2,360US (£420-1980) just to have a job even though it is illegal in Qatar, it leaves most with debt they are unable to pay off, leaving them struggling financially and even driven to suicide under the pressure. The industry has been criticised for “inadequately” monitoring and reimbursing employers.

While a core of hotel brands were credited for “modest progress” as regards worker rights, the issue is all the more acute because the window for improvement is now closing, and is seen as an area that could have huge influence across the entire gulf.

Only four of the companies disclosed uncovering recruitment fee payments from their interviews with workers, despite the prevalence of the practice.

The report concluded by calling for the industry to: increase transparency through annual reporting; improve due diligence and monitoring of business partners; commit to remediation for workers.