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Amnesty: Security guards at World Cup subjected to forced labour


Security guards in Qatar are working in conditions which amount to forced labour, including on projects linked to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, says Amnesty International.

In a new 73-page report - They Think That We're Machines - published on Thursday, Amnesty documented the experiences of 34 current or former employees of eight private security companies in Qatar.

The key findings of the report were:

  • Security guards in Qatar are working in conditions which amount to forced labour, including on projects linked to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, says Amnesty International.
  • Amnesty also documented discrimination on the basis of race, national origin and language.
  • Fifteen of the guards Amnesty interviewed were routinely deployed outside in intense heat, including during summer months when outdoor working is supposed to be restricted, and in some cases with no shelter or drinking water.
  • Key legal reforms to tackle labour issues are not being effectively implemented.

The 34 workers were employed by eight different private companies which provided services for sites including government ministries and football stadiums, as well as other infrastructure projects essential for the 2022 World Cup, such as hotels, transport systems and sports facilities. At least three of the companies provided security for recent FIFA tournaments, including the Club World Cup and the FIFA Arab Cup.


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