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ather than directly by the companies themselves. We invited the companies’ responses as
well and sought pledges regarding worker protections.
Aspire Logistics, which manages the Aspire Zone, explained that it includes clauses
protecting workers’ rights in contracts, that it employs a third-party project manager to
monitor compliance of contractors and subcontractors with such provisions, and that any
violations by contractors are subject to penalty or legal sanction. The company, however,
said that it did not have legal control over the actions of subcontractors, who it
acknowledged may abuse workers’ rights. To address such situations, Aspire Logistics
pledged to prepare a list of approved subcontractors following a review to determine which
ones adhere to Qatari law as well as the Aspire Zone’s own requirements.
While such vetting may prove useful to avoid rehiring subcontracting firms with poor track
records, it fails to provide accountability for current or past abuses. To provide full
accountability, Aspire should penalize any contractors found to have hired subcontractors
who abuse workers and terminate contracts with those found to have done so repeatedly.
Regarding the wider set of problems documented by Human Rights Watch for this report,
Aspire Logistics said it would take the issues and recommendations into consideration. It
also committed to offer seminars to educate workers on their rights under Qatar’s Labor
Law. The company, which stressed that it strictly follows Qatari law, said that it complies
with the requirement to reimburse fees in the case of employees hired locally but
acknowledged that this requirement did not cover migrant workers hired overseas.
Bechtel replied by describing its role as project manager at the New Doha Airport, which
includes a responsibility to manage contractors and subcontractors, including by
establishing labor standards and following up on contractual requirements that address
working conditions, accommodations, and health and safety, among other issues. Citing
the two labor disputes it said had arisen since its contract began in 2004, Bechtel said it
used a “proactive approach” that entailed mediating a resolution in both cases. The
company stressed the matter of worker safety and said that its training had helped ensure
a low accident rate at the airport site. Regarding the allegations of passport confiscation,
illegal salary deductions, or deception in recruitment raised by construction workers at the
airport employed by labor contracting companies, Bechtel said that “we do not claim to
have all the answers, but we continue to strive to make a difference in those areas where
we believe we can have the most impact,” leaving unclear whether it felt the issues raised
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 12