Reports of ‘forced labour’ ahead of 2022 World Cup

One of the most controversial football world cups is months away and there are reports of forced labour among workers

Amnesty International found 34 employees from eight private companies were involved in forced labour in Qatar.

The report was published just days after the official draw for the tournament was announced.

It found the migrant workers are working for months, or in some cases, years on end without a day off.

“Despite the progress Qatar has made in recent years, our research suggests that abuses in the private security sectorwhich will be increasingly in demand during the World Cup – remain systematic and structural.”

Stephen Cockburn from Amnesty International

Most of the workers say their employers refused to respect the weekly rest day, which is legislated in Qatar.

Amnesty says the workers have been employed by private companies. Together, they provide services for sites including football stadiums, and some other infrastructure projects.

As part of the report, Amnesty interviewed several current or former security guards. The human rights organisation says it “indicates that these abuses are systemic”.

Qatari law restricts working hours to 60-hours a week, including overtime.