Qatar vows action following migrant labourers' deaths in 2022 World Cup preparations

Qatar has reportedly promised a crackdown on private building companies allegedly exploiting migrant workers, including Nepalese and Indian, following an investigation by a reputed British newspaper that revealed the deaths of an alarming numbers of labourers in the building boom prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The statement comes following warnings that unless the labour system is changed in the country atleast 4,000 workers could die before the start of the World Cup.

According to the Guardian, Qatari labour minister Saleh al-Khulaifi said the Gulf nation would be recruiting more inspectors to raid and check companies to ensure that they comply with labour laws and hire more interpreters to hasten the treatment of complaints from foreign workers.

Al-Khulaifi further said that the government took allegations of maltreatment very seriously and vowed to take necessary action to protect the rights of the expatriate workforce, with the report adding that companies are under scrutiny to make them comply with labour law provisions regarding health, safety, accommodation and salaries.

The report mentioned that 44 Nepalese workers died from June 4 to August 8 this year, almost half of them from heart failure or accidents, while India revealed that 41 of its nationals in Qatar died over the summer.