In a report released today, Amnesty International criticized the Qatari government for continuing to drag its feet on reforms and failing to urgently address the rampant exploitation of migrant workers.

The report–No Extra Time: How Qatar is still failing on workers’ rights ahead of the World Cup–
highlights the disparity between the reforms promised in May of this year and the very minimal progress thus far.

Following a series of exposés  on the abuse of the country’s labor migrants in 2013 and 2014, Qatar commissioned international law firm DLA Piper to review the situation and offer recommendations for reform. Though the report is available widely, the government did not make it public. However, Qatari officials did announce reforms on 14 May, 2014, including changes to the Kafala system.
Of the DLA Piper report, Amnesty says: “[it] evades the really crucial issues of fundamental reform of the exit permit and sponsorship system and the right of workers to form or join trade unions.”

“Urgent action is needed to ensure we do not end up with a World Cup tournament that is built on forced labor and exploitation.”

Prior to Qatar’s announcement in May, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Amnesty  released reports on  the exploitation of migrant workers, and provided recommendations.

In its latest report, Amnesty lists nine key issues, highlighting actual progress against the recommendations made by Amnesty, UN and DLA Piper. Of the nine, there has been  no actual progress on five, partial progress on two and limited progress on two, as listed below.

Issue 1: Migrant workers are prevented from leaving the country by their employers, who deny them exit permits and confiscate their passports.

Actual Progress: None

Issue 2: The restrictive sponsorship or “kafala” system gives rise to abuse including forced labor.

Actual Progress: None

Issue 3: Domestic workers have no protection for their labor rights under the law, and can suffer physical and sexual violence at the hands of their employers.

Actual Progress: None

Issue 4: Migrant workers are paid late or not paid at all.

Actual Progress: None

Issue 5: Workers pay large recruitment fees to migrate to Qatar and /or are made false promises about their salaries or type of work. The abuse can amount to human trafficking.

Actual Progress: Partial

Issue 6: Conditions on-site for construction workers are harsh and dangerous. Workers face barriers to accessing health care. Many workers die of heart attacks.

Actual Progress: Limited

Issue 7: Access to justice for victims of labor exploitation is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

Actual Progress: Limited

Issue 8: Migrant workers are forbidden from forming or joining trade unions.

Actual Progress: None

Issue 9: Labor standards, including accommodation, are not enforced properly. There are not enough inspectors and inspection is not stringent.

Actual Progress: Partial

“Time is running out fast. It has been four years since Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup, putting itself in the global spotlight, so far its response to migrant labor abuses has not been much more than promises of action and draft laws,” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Head of Refugee and Migrants’ Rights at Amnesty International, in a press statement.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure we do not end up with a World Cup tournament that is built on forced labor and exploitation.”

Essayed-Ali added: “Despite making repeated promises to clean up its act ahead of the World Cup, the government of Qatar still appears to be dragging its feet over some of the most fundamental changes needed such as abolishing the exit permit and overhauling its abusive sponsorship system.”

The entire report can be read here: No Extra Time - How Qatar is still failing on workers' rights ahead of the World Cup - final