News

Qatar Acknowledges Up To 500 Migrant Deaths During World Cup Construction

The Qatar World Cup Chief, Hassan Al-Thawadi, estimated that 400-500 migrant workers died while working on projects related to the World Cup since winning the bid to host 12 years ago.

Al-Thawadi first declared a death toll as low as three work-related deaths and 37 non-work-related deaths because Qatar was only evaluating worker deaths as they pertained to constructing the stadiums. Only when Morgan pushed him on the realistic death toll as it related to all kinds of preparations for the World Cup, including accommodations and infrastructure, did Al-Thawadi arrive at his much higher estimation.

IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED THIS YEAR!

“The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500,” Al-Thawadi told Piers Morgan. “I don’t have the exact number. That’s something that’s being discussed.”

Last year, The Guardian reported that 6,500 South Asian migrant workers had died since 2010, when Qatar won the World Cup bid. The report did not connect all 6,500 deaths to specific World Cup projects but said it was the total death toll for this category of low-wage workers.

Al-Thawadi said the World Cup helped catalyze labor reform and enforcement of proper labor practices as Qatar prepared for a higher degree of scrutiny.

“The improvements that have happened isn’t because of the World Cup, these are improvements that we knew we had to do because of our own values,” Al-Thawadi said.

Al-Thawadi cited the dismantling of the kafala system, a sponsorship system that can lead to forced labor, as one of the many improvements made by Qatar during this period.

Qatar became the first country in the Arab Gulf to allow migrant workers to change jobs before the end of a contract without requiring employer consent, a key characteristic of the former kafala system. Qatar also set a minimum wage for migrant workers, becoming the second Arab Gulf country to do so.

According to Human Rights Watch, the country has vastly improved its treatment of migrant workers, but avenues for exploitation and abuse still exist.

Claire Franken

Recent Posts

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Frankie Muniz Reveals Details About ‘The Malcolm In The Middle’ Reboot

The return to the show will supposedly see the title character, accompanied by his daughter…

9 hours ago

Arnold & Patrick Schwarzenegger Make Dashing Father-Son Appearance At ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Premiere

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, made an appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s The…

10 hours ago

VIDEO: CCTV Captures Seconds Before U.S. Navy Fighter Jet Crashes Into San Diego Bay, 2 Survivors Rescued

https://youtu.be/wo6Ywd0tApE Two U.S. Navy pilots were rescued after they ejected from a fighter jet that…

11 hours ago

Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud In Fake Scheme To Privately Build Border Wall

Former White House aide Steve Bannon has pled guilty to the wire fraud charges related…

12 hours ago

Rep. Nancy Mace Accuses Her Ex-Fiancé & Other Men Of Assault Against Her & Other Women In Shocking Speech On House Floor

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) accused her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and three other men of…

12 hours ago

George Stephanopoulos Rumored To Being Leaving ABC News After Humiliating Apology In Trump Defamation Lawsuit & Fight With David Muir

In the wake of a defamation suit with Donald Trump, Good Morning America news anchor…

13 hours ago