"UN sees progress in Qatar's migrant labour reforms", 15 January 2016

Qatar has made progress in its efforts to improve the lives of migrant labourers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday, departing from previous UN criticism of the wealthy nation's treatment of workers. Rights groups accuse Qatar of abusive labour laws and of forcing some workers to live in squalor and work under poor safety conditions. Unions and labour protests are banned and authorities penalise dissent with jail terms or immediate deportation...