12 Oct 2022
FIFA urged to address migrant worker concerns as non payment of wages prompt protests from workers
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Companies
Electrowatt - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Human Rights Watch
Action taken: None reported by the company. Qatar’s Labour Ministry told Human Rights Watch in a September 18 written response to questions that it “has taken the necessary measures to facilitate the immediate payment of wages at Al Bandary Group and Electrowatt W.L.L through the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.” The Ministry noted that its investigations uncovered “missing data in the employee lists of both companies,” noting that unpaid employees can claim compensation from the Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund. It also said that it had referred Al Bandary and Electrowatt for “legal prosecution.”
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Other
Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Kenya , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Protests , Freedom of Association , Wage Theft , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Companies
Al Jaber Trading & Contracting - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Recruitment FeesResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Human Rights Watch
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Provides a general response but no action in relation to this individual. Qatari authorities said “it is illegal for companies in Qatar to charge recruitment fees or related costs of any kind” and that employers have the right to terminate an employment contract before the expiration of its term, provided the employer adheres to providing the worker the notice period required by law."
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Companies
Redco International - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Recruitment FeesResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Human Rights Watch
Action taken: No response given to HRW by the company. Qatari authorities said “it is illegal for companies in Qatar to charge recruitment fees or related costs of any kind” and that employers have the right to terminate an employment contract before the expiration of its term, provided the employer adheres to providing the worker the notice period required by law."
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Other
Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Recruitment Fees , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: The worker's salary was paid in full from the Ministry of Labour’s Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund. No action was reported in relation to the recruitment fee.
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Qatar
Companies
Al Bandary International - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Protests , Freedom of Expression , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Human Rights Watch
Action taken: Company did not respond to HRW and no action is reported by the company. Qatar’s Labour Ministry told Human Rights Watch in a September 18 written response to questions that it “has taken the necessary measures to facilitate the immediate payment of wages at Al Bandary Group and Electrowatt W.L.L through the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.” The Ministry noted that its investigations uncovered “missing data in the employee lists of both companies,” noting that unpaid employees can claim compensation from the Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund. It also said that it had referred Al Bandary and Electrowatt for “legal prosecution.”
Source type: NGO
"Qatar/FIFA: Address Demands of Migrant Worker Strikes", 11 Oct 2022
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. FIFA and Qatari authorities should also tackle underlying wage abuse grievances including by supporting a remedy fund to comprehensively address this problem.
Between 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.
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. 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. One migrant worker said he was detained on August 14 with a group of other protesters and deported after 20 days. 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....
[Article makes specific allegations against Redco International, Al Jaber Trading & Contracting, Al Bandary International and Electrowatt re non payment of wages. Other issues raised include threats and intimidation, recruitment fees and the suppression of protests. FIFA has previously responded to the allegations workers are being home before the World Cup without receiving their end of service benefits here]