Construction Workers in Qatar Sue US Firm for Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation
Construction workers involved in building the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadium in Qatar have filed a lawsuit against Dallas-based Jacobs Solutions and its subsidiary CH2M for human trafficking and labor exploitation. A group of 38 Filipino plaintiffs have accused the companies of knowingly participating in ventures that exploited their labor, resulting in a violation of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. The workers claim that they were deceived about the terms of their employment and living conditions, and were made to endure grueling working conditions without adequate food and water for up to 72 hours straight. Additionally, their passports were allegedly confiscated, leaving them unable to address their inhumane treatment. Jacobs Solutions has responded by stating they have not been served with the lawsuit and have not yet had the opportunity to review the allegations. The company maintains its commitment to respecting human rights and ensuring the well-being of workers in all its operations worldwide.
Qatar’s World Cup Labor Exploitation Controversy
The latest lawsuit adds to the growing number of complaints filed by workers involved in the 2022 World Cup construction project in Qatar. Jacobs Solutions, which acquired CH2M in 2017, oversaw the entire construction venture, including the management and awarding of work for all stadiums and related infrastructure. The role of overseeing the project combined with Qatar’s kafala system, which allows employers significant control over employment conditions and immigration status, gave the private sector extensive power over migrant workers. This has led to a multitude of grievances and concerns expressed by workers worldwide, with numerous instances of abuse and exploitation reported.
Shocking Statistics on Qatar’s World Cup Labor Exploitation
- QR750 ($210): The monthly minimum wage in Qatar prior to August 2020, when the country raised its minimum wage and extended it to foreign workers for the first time.
- 14: The minimum number of deaths estimated by CH2M during the construction of Qatar’s World Cup stadiums. Unsafe conditions at construction sites have raised concerns among workers.
- 6,500: The estimated number of migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka who died in Qatar during the decade after the country was awarded the World Cup hosting duties. This figure emerged from an investigation conducted by The Guardian. In contrast, the Qatar World Cup authorities had previously claimed a death toll of only 400 to 500.
“Migrant workers were indispensable to making the World Cup 2022 possible, but it has come at great cost for many migrant workers and their families who not only made personal sacrifices but also faced widespread wage theft, injuries, and thousands of unexplained deaths.” – Rothna Begum, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, November 2022
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