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World Cup. We have enclosed a summary of relevant research findings from our upcoming
report for your reference. Our research examined the construction industry as a whole, and
found that abusive practices of the kind we have documented elsewhere in the Gulf are also
prevalent in Qatar. As described in the enclosed summary, we found that key factors trap
migrant workers in Qatar in exploitative jobs: the exorbitant recruitment fees that nearly all
of the workers we interviewed had paid in order to obtain their jobs; and the restrictive
kafala (sponsorship) system that prevents workers from changing jobs or leaving the country
without a sponsoring employer’s permission. In addition, there is an inadequate legal and
regulatory framework to protect workers’ rights. Most notably, Qatari law prohibits migrant
workers from forming trade unions, in violation of these workers’ rights to freedom of
association and collective bargaining, and the government fails to enforce adequately
current laws that, at least on paper, are meant to protect worker rights. In some cases, the
exploitation and coercive circumstances in which workers found themselves amounted to
conditions of forced labor or human trafficking, as defined under international law.
We are aware that earlier this year Qatar’s Supreme Committee 2022 awarded CH2M HILL the
World Cup 2022 program management contract. We note that, as described in the
company’s announcement of this contract, “Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has direct
responsibility for building competition venues which includes the proposed stadiums and
training sites while maintaining a coordination role for non-competition venues required by
FIFA, in addition to major infrastructure works such as the New Doha International Airport
and the proposed nationwide metro network.” We thus understand that CH2M HILL will act
on behalf of the local organizing committee to oversee construction of the facilities to be
used for World Cup 2022. We are aware that multiple tenders for World Cup projects have
been issued since the appointment of CH2M HILL as the program management consultant to
the Supreme Committee.
While few World Cup-related construction projects are underway at this stage, we wish to
draw your attention to the fact that we interviewed construction workers at two locations
where facilities are under construction or undergoing renovation in connection with Qatar’s
preparations for the World Cup who alleged that their rights were not respected. We are in
the process of writing to relevant companies regarding those allegations and thus have not
detailed them here.
We have taken note of CH2M HILL’s corporate commitments addressing labor rights. We are
aware, for example, that your ethics and business conduct guidelines for employees state
that
As part of our commitment to the global community, we respect and protect
the rights of those who work on our projects. We provide reasonable working
conditions and fair wages. CH2M HILL has a zero-tolerance policy for the use
of forced labor or other human trafficking practices and will not knowingly do
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