Human Rights Watch report - Qatar

Well many organsations did answer including Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, but will their actions match their words?

what to do yani..!

Shameless indeed.

Actually, this (and other labour issues) have been going on for so many years. As far as I'm aware, nearly a decade already.

The problem is not with the Qatar Govt but mainly, the companies that employ these workers. Many of them only consider their profit margins and don't look after their staff. The Govt's efforts in enforcement of labour laws were not entirely effective in protecting genuinely hardworking people, hence that needs work.

Awareness is always the 1st step to change. Hope the change will be more concrete instead of just lip service. It's a start at least.

Yep, it's all lies.

Translator said, "Human Rights Watch have a long proven records of publishing politically motivated reports"

Interesting. I did think that the report was used as leverage for political mileage esp with the WC upcoming mega projects and the need for Qatar to look good in the international arena.

But well, it's a start and there are many labourers who do suffer these conditions in the work camps.

/Btw, I viewed Al Jazeera yesterday when this Human Rights report was highlighted. The scenes of the work camps reminded me of my former accomodation in Doha Jadeed ... so I was thinking to myself, errr... what harsh conditions are they talking about? ... Ok, ok, we have a/c for the 10 month summer and can buy heaters and blankets during winter time.

There have been reports of harassment, nonpayment of salaries improper and inhumane labour conditions and accommodation in Qatar. The latest is nonpayment of 6 months’ salary and denial to NOC to avoid end of service Gratuity and other dues by the Company Management of my colleague’s brother who has been serving in this company around 15 years. When he finally decided to stop going to the office 2 months back the company’s management filed a complaint against him at the police station claiming the employee has been on the run finally he was arrested at his home in Doha and subsequently deported. The Qatari Government should take appropriate and strict action against such management who disobey the Labour Laws of Qatar and who want to spoil the name of Qatar for their personal gains. Not giving workers’ rights is un-Islamic and will be judged by God. After all Qatar is an Islamic Country and the people should respect the Islamic Values they preach about so much .

I have read the full report and I don’t think anybody can dispute that they are facts.

The sponsorship system is a main cause of the exploitations of going on in this country.In every other progressive country in GCC, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, the Labor rules are more balanced, employee too has some rights over his sponsorship and freedom of movement. And every other country in GCC expect KSA has abolished exit permit system long time ago because the govt. realized rigid sponsorship & permit system gives upper hand to employers and that generates chance exploit and abuse employees.
Note that the report mainly talks about the construction industry because of the large No: of laborers in that industry, but exploitation is rampant in other industries too. An Engineer’s or an Accountant’s situation is no different than a construction labor when it comes to labor rules. Last year about 12 employees in our firm was forced to leave the after expiry of contract; many had wife and kids here. They had offers from firms which are not competitors and few of them had job offers from Govt but were plainly denied NOC and no reason was given...
Look at UAE for eg: they still have sponsorship system; The employer and employee have equal rights. They have an effective Labor dept and are friendly. An employee can change sponsor/job after 2 years of completing the contract if both parties do not intent to continue and the employee doesn’t need NOC.
If folks in higher up thinks they can get away with these Stone Age rules/ modern day slavery; they are living in fool’s paradise. Being in international stage is a different ball game altogether and they are going to learn it in the hard way. They have longed for publicity and Qatar is getting it finally, but not exactly the way they wanted it. It is really unfortunate that even after winning the bid to host the prestigious world cup 2022 Qatar is not willing to change these rules. This makes us think about selfishness and lack of kindness of few in higher ups..
If Qatar is seeking more respect and political role in the Middle East and in the International stage, and wants to be respected as a legit country they have to shed their inhibitions fear and address and fix these problems.

The sponsorship system is a main cause of the exploitations - and who can stop the law of the might ones invading other countries , causing loss of land , lives isn't this too an exploitation ??

To whomever it may concern :)

Well Chota, HRW and a number of other Human Rights organisations including Amnesty and others do publish reports on abuses in Palenstine, Iraq and Afghanistan so your point is mute.

Apparently the scenes are much worster in the labour camps than what they posted in report...may i ask you to please share some reports which the same org. made against the inhumanity towards palestinians and against those poor peoples who are suffering because of U.S's brutality!!!!

Change in our lifetime...lol

ok, you can put down the "crack pipe" now..

This report is a load of "poo"...

HRW and FIFA, have the ability to really make a change..
But that will not happen..

Why was there not suspense date to get this stuff moving??
Because, it is all just "fluff"..

On paper it will appear as there are changes..
But the worker will never see that..

It's not like the GOVT here just heard about these issues..

There is no "checks and balance" system here..

Until the government and citizens of Qatar, recognize that all people are equal, change will be difficult.

A phrase comes to mind...

"There is no bite in that dog"...

HWR do not have the power to change anything they can just apply pressure.

However FIFA have the ability to force change and if Qatar does not agree they can move the World Cup. Well that is if FIFA can take a break with stuffing their pockets with money.

FIFA Doesn’t care . If they did,they have would responded to criticism over the issues of racism, anti-Semitism & homophobia in Ukraine & Poland raised prior to UEFA Euro 2012

First Fifa accepts bribes n then investigates hmm so intelligent of them

You're right Genesis FIFA doesn't care, not about football and not about social issues, wether in Qatar or Poland/Ukraine. No money in caring...

Lets look at FIFA most pressing concern.

1. Forcing Brazil to change their laws so that the alcohol of their sponsors can be sold in the stadiums. As the Secretary of FIFA said this is non-negotiable.

2. Racism in EURO 2012
......errrr..... can't think of anything

3. Human Right Abuses in Qatar or anywhere
......errrr... no again.

So they will force Qatar to flood Doha with alcohol against the local populations wishes but will not insist on proper working conditions for labourers.

All about sheer greed. There is no appetite to enforce the laws because it would cost some of the big companies a great deal of money if they had to pay EOS ben or increase their wages or send them home when they are supposed to.

Things will not change when there are so many greedy and selfish people around

MT: there is not even a definite answer to Aisha's age, but people are using her case in vian to justify their disgusting lusts.