Razeen Gutta
The controversial 2022 Fifa World Cup took the spotlight once again this week after Qatar detained at least 60 migrant labourers for protesting against working conditions in the middle Eastern country.
London-based human rights group Equidem have reported that authorities made the arrests in response to protests of the workers who have allegedly not been paid for up to seven months.
Qatari officials confirmed the arrests to Associated Press, claiming in a statement that the protestors were “breaching public safety laws.”
90% of Qatar’s labour force are migrants, with the $200 billion (R3 trillion) infrastructure for the summer spectacle being almost entirely built by workers from the subcontinent. Seven stadiums and an airport have all been built in preparation of the event.
Workers blocked an intersection on Doha’s C Ring Road in front of the Al Shoumoukh Tower in protest, and the government has acknowledged that many workers are yet to receive their salaries.
The labour ministry has further added that they would pay “all delayed salaries and benefits” to affected workers.
“The company was already under investigation by the authorities for nonpayment of wages before the incident, and now further action is being taken after a deadline to settle outstanding salary payments was missed,” the Qatari government said.
The Fifa World Cup in Qatar will kick off on 20 November.
Image source:Twitter
