In 2010, Qatar was selected as the location for the 2022 Fifa World Cup. Qatar has already built three high-tech football stadiums, with a further five still in the process of being built. During the construction of these stadiums, Qatar has received various accusations for breaching basic human rights and not complying with international labour laws.
Migrant workers from nearby countries, such as Nepal and India, make up over 90% of Qatar’s workforce. Many of these migrant workers are unable to change jobs, leave the country or even attempt to seek help. In addition to this, they are forced to live in cramped, dirty and unsafe accommodation with some reports of 600 men having to share two kitchens between them all. These migrants end up in Qatar due to recruitment agents that make false promises about the salary workers will receive and when they will receive it. Not only does this leave migrant workers vulnerable to not being able to buy necessities, such as food, but it also affects their families back home who are relying on this income.
According to the Indian government's figures, 1,345 Indians died in Qatar due to 'natural causes.’ This phenomenon has been coined as ‘sudden death syndrome’ by young migrants where young men die in their sleep where no known cause can be identified. These deaths are the worst example of the mistreatment that is rife in Qatar’s construction industry.
Whilst FIFA is set to make huge profits of the 2022 World Cup, migrant workers are being abused and exploited with some even ending up dead. More needs to done to ensure the basic human rights of these migrant workers.
