Hundreds of safety guards and marshals on the Qatar World Cup went unpaid for lengthy working durations with out days off, earlier than being pressured in a foreign country when the event ended, a brand new Amnesty Worldwide investigation has discovered. Some didn’t earn sufficient to repay the mortgage required for recruitment prices.
The human rights physique state that analysis into Teyseer Safety Providers “reveals sample of abuses towards migrant staff”. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s Head of Financial and Social Justice, has in the meantime accused Fifa of failing “to successfully examine the difficulty or provide treatments”, demanding that the worldwide governing physique step in and “provide quick and significant remediation for the human rights abuses suffered by staff”.
The group spoke to 22 males from Nepal, Kenya and Ghana, who have been amongst hundreds of migrant staff employed on short-term contracts by Qatar-based Teyseer Safety Providers to work as marshals and safety guards at World Cup websites within the build-up and through the event itself. Among the many areas have been Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, Fifa fan zones, the Corniche and the metro station in Souk Waqif.
All the staff interviewed mentioned “false guarantees” have been made by both Teyseer’s representatives or recruitment brokers, amongst them the strategies they might take up extra senior roles to earn an additional £220 a month, or keep and work within the nation past the three-month contract interval. As soon as in Qatar, nevertheless, nothing materialised.
As an alternative, a 3rd of these interviewed – notably these employed as marshals – mentioned they needed to work 12 hours every single day for 28 consecutive days. That got here with none time without work or sufficient pay to replicate this work, which breaches Qatari regulation. The work typically concerned standing for lengthy hours with out sitting down and coping with massive crowds with out sufficient coaching or help.
“I needed to take out a mortgage to pay for the bills to journey to work in Qatar through the World Cup,” Marcus, his identify modified at his request, instructed Amnesty. “I’m nonetheless paying it, what I earned was not sufficient.”
Richard, who has additionally requested his identify be modified and labored at one of many group coaching grounds, discovered he would have earned extra had he stayed in Ghana.
“I misplaced as a result of I paid virtually £550 earlier than going there. I solely acquired about £1,200, so I solely made £650. I’d get greater than that if I had stayed in Ghana. I misplaced my job because of this [of going] so I got here again with little cash and no job.”
Khalifa Worldwide Stadium was one of many venues the place among the individuals interviewed by Amnesty labored
(PA Wire)
Kiran, a modified identify for a employee from Nepal, discovered the character of his work on the Souk Waqif metro intimidating and bodily arduous.
“It was a troublesome job as a result of there was one metro [station] within the space and an excessive amount of of a crowd. I needed to stand for ten to 12 hours a day… simply resting my again on the barricades. At instances we felt scared as a result of it was too busy, and other people have been pushing.”
Cockburn places the first accountability on Fifa and Qatar, stating the nation’s present mechanism for redress is “not match for goal”.
He mentioned: “The World Cup organisers have been effectively conscious of the problems however didn’t put in place sufficient measures to guard staff and forestall predictable labour abuses at World Cup websites, even after staff raised these points immediately.
“It’s six months for the reason that event concluded however Fifa and Qatar have but to supply an efficient and accessible scheme to allow abused staff to obtain the justice and compensation they’re owed. Qatar’s present mechanism for redress will not be match for goal and has left hundreds of staff disadvantaged of compensation for the abuses they suffered.
“Fifa has a transparent accountability to make sure human rights are revered all through the provision chain engaged in making ready and delivering its showcase competitors.
“Though six months have handed for the reason that World Cup, Fifa has but to successfully examine the difficulty, or provide treatments. Staff have already waited too lengthy for justice. Fifa should now step in and provide quick and significant remediation for the human rights abuses suffered by staff.”
The abuses led lots of Teyseer’s staff to protest on a number of events whereas they have been in Qatar. Some instructed Amnesty they reported their remedy on the World Cup Grievances Hotline however no motion was taken.
One mentioned a supervisor threatened to fireside him in relation for complaining and warned him to not report points once more. Lots of of marshals ultimately staged a protest demanding their dues days earlier than their contracts expired in January, after which staff mentioned representatives of each Teyseer and the federal government promised they’d be compensated. That has not but been honoured.
The Amnesty report particulars “himan rights abuses” suffered by staff in Qatar
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Amnesty report that Teyseer representatives threatened “motion” if the boys failed to depart Qatar on flights organized by the corporate. Lots of needed to go away Qatar with out compensation.
Teyseer denied the allegations to Amnesty, saying the corporate adopted an “moral recruitment course of” whereas detailing varied measures it had taken to guard staff’ rights. Fifa instructed Amnesty due diligence was carried out on the safety agency however there have been “completely different perceptions and views” on the expertise of staff.
The worldwide governing physique mentioned it will search additional clarification on the problems raised however didn’t provide dedication to supply treatment.
Qatar has launched a grievance mechanism however staff should nonetheless be within the nation to entry the state’s labour courts and any compensation scheme. There isn’t any method to complain remotely and, with staff inevitably pressured to depart as soon as their contracts are up, Amnesty state they’ve been “denied justice”.
The Qatari authorities repeated the widespread line to Amnesty that measures had been taken lately to reform its labour system.
Amnesty conclude by stating that the abuses endured are “a part of a sample suffered by migrant staff in Qatar” for the reason that choice was taken to award the state the World Cup in 2010.
In a press release to The Unbiased, Fifa mentioned: “Fifa, in collaboration with its Qatari counterparts, applied a far-reaching due diligence course of with the purpose to make sure that corporations concerned in Fifa World Cup-related development and providers abide by the Supreme Committee’s Staff’ Welfare Requirements. We take into account any non-compliance with these requirements unacceptable and are actively following up after we study alleged breaches.
“After receiving Amnesty Worldwide’s allegations regarding Teyseer’s staff on 19 April 2023, Fifa promptly adopted up with the SC’s Employee Welfare Division (WWD) in addition to with the Doha Workplace of the Worldwide Labour Organisation ILO. It’s the major accountability of the respective corporations in addition to the Qatari authorities to rectify potential antagonistic impacts on staff. As Fifa, we work to make use of our leverage with the related entities to advertise the supply of treatment after we turn into conscious of such allegations, in step with our tasks below worldwide requirements.
“We kindly refer you to the SC and the ILO for additional info on this case.
“Extra broadly, one shouldn’t lose monitor of the larger image: Worldwide consultants and commerce union representatives who’ve assessed and collaborated within the labour rights programme for Fifa World Cup staff have repeatedly recognised that it led to heightened safety and welfare for Fifa World Cup staff.
“As well as, in response to the Worldwide Labour Organisation, Qatar’s labour reforms have been important and benefitted tons of of hundreds of staff with the World Cup being an essential catalyst for these reforms. It’s simple that important progress has taken place, and it’s equally clear that the enforcement of such transformative reforms takes time and that heightened efforts are wanted to make sure the reforms profit all staff within the nation.”