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[a] court [judgment], it can take one year. Who feeds and lodges [the worker]?” E.M., an expatriate resident who assists workers in distress told Human Rights Watch. 248 Advocates and embassy staff also identified court fees as an obstacle for workers seeking redress. Qatar’s Labor Law states that all lawsuits filed by workers seeking redress under the Labor Law should be treated “with urgency” and exempted from judicial fees. 249 Labor Ministry officials insisted that courts should never charge workers fees in order to hear their claims. 250 However, two ambassadors from major labor-sending countries, as well as their labor attachés, identified a 500 riyal (US$137) deposit as a major setback for workers who had sought assistance from their embassies and tried to pursue court claims. 251 “We have the receipts,” one told Human Rights Watch. “They require them to pay or the case will not proceed.” 252 The Qatar National Human Rights Committee also found in a June 2011 report that “the worker must pay the fees of the expert estimated at between 300-500 riyals [US$82 to $137], although the provisions of the Labor Law require considering labor cases expeditiously and without court fees.” 253 “Most of the workers have been working without salary for five or six months, [so] where will they get 500 riyals?” another ambassador of a labor-sending country pointed out. 254 Embassy staff said they could not legally shelter workers at their embassies, which made it difficult to assist workers in distress. ““[Workers] find it very difficult to stay in Qatar for three to four months with no food, accommodation, or salary, [in order] to pursue their complaint,” the ambassador of a labor-sending country told Human Rights Watch. “In most cases, workers … surrender their rights and go back home [after paying] their own tickets.” 255 In the November 2011 letter to Human Rights Watch, Ministry of Labor officials included data showing that a total of 1,279 complaints were referred to the judiciary 248 Human Rights Watch interview with E.M., Villagio Mall, Doha, May 26, 2011. 249 Law No. 14 of 2004, art. 10 states that “All lawsuits filed by workers or their heirs claiming the entitlements accruing under the provisions of this law or the service contract shall be dealt with urgency and shall be exempted from judicial fees.” Labor Law, No. 14 of the Year 2004, State of Qatar, Ministry of Labor, Labor Department, official translation (2010). 250 Human Rights Watch meeting with Nasser al-Mannai, Director of Recruitment Department, Mohamed al-Obeidly, Director of Legal Affairs Department, and Salih al-Shawi, Director of Labor Relations Department, Ministry of Labor, Doha, Qatar, June 22, 2011. 251 Human Rights Watch interview with ambassador of labor-sending country, Doha, May 27, 2011; Human Rights Watch interview with ambassador of labor-sending country, Doha, June 22, 2011. 252 Human Rights Watch interview with ambassador of labor-sending country, Doha, Qatar, June 22, 2011. 253 Qatar National Human Rights Committee, Study on the Conditions of Unskilled Labor Force in the Construction Sector in Qatar, (Doha: Qatar National Human Rights Committee, 2011), on file with Human Rights Watch, p.8. 254 Human Rights Watch interview with ambassador of labor-sending country, Doha, May 27, 2011. 255 Human Rights Watch interview with ambassador of labor-sending country, Doha, May 27, 2011. 85 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JUNE 2012
etween January 2009 and September 2011, but stated elsewhere in the letter that the ministry had granted only 100 workers temporary sponsorship transfer, according to the provision of the law that requires such transfer when legal cases are pending between workers and employers. 256 The discrepancy reveals that in less than 8 percent of cases referred to the judiciary did workers obtain legal sponsorship transfer in order to pursue justice through the legal system. 256 Ibid, p.12. BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 86
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H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H Bui
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Copyright © 2012 Human Rights Watc
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To Construction, Labor-Supply, and
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Based on interviews with 73 migrant
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employers to ensure potable water,
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whether they forfeit their rights i
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Necessary Steps Qatar’s Governmen
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secretary-general of FIFA, stated t
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ather than directly by the companie
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(above) Massive construction projec
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(above) A migrant construction work
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Hallway lights illuminate a worker
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20 Building a better world cup
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This Bangladeshi migrant worker tol
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Migrant workers housed in Doha’s
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26 Building a better world cup
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Methodology Human Rights Watch cond
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I. Background Qatar, a Gulf country
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Meanwhile, migrant workers’ labor
Page 39 and 40: labor is temporary. Once their job
Page 41 and 42: “mandatory contract language and
Page 43 and 44: of 2004 set a maximum prison term o
Page 45 and 46: However, the lack of official compl
Page 47 and 48: Even on its face, the Labor Law lac
Page 49 and 50: The Sponsorship Law requires reside
Page 51 and 52: Qatar has not ratified conventions
Page 53 and 54: if they occur. 90 Former UN Special
Page 55 and 56: usiness with subcontractors, suppli
Page 57 and 58: or who have learned of job opportun
Page 59 and 60: written agreements into real, effec
Page 61 and 62: offered himself voluntarily.” 114
Page 63 and 64: after their arrival), or penalizes
Page 65 and 66: The New Doha International Airport
Page 67 and 68: disciplinary purposes, and up to 50
Page 69 and 70: Qatar for three years, and that his
Page 71 and 72: people [have to share] one bathroom
Page 73 and 74: of 191 Nepali workers from all caus
Page 75 and 76: matters that the foreigner has to r
Page 77 and 78: Aspire Zone The Aspire Zone is the
Page 79 and 80: [an] emergency exit [from the count
Page 81 and 82: While their response also states th
Page 83 and 84: Qatar’s labor ministry has taken
Page 85 and 86: Without available translators or in
Page 87 and 88: would terminate the employment rela
Page 89: Qatar’s Sponsorship Law states th
Page 93 and 94: notarized undertakings in workers
Page 95 and 96: • Ensure that courts reviewing la
Page 97 and 98: • Finance a public awareness camp
Page 99 and 100: Acknowledgements This report was re
Page 101 and 102: Qatar from charging workers fees, b
Page 103 and 104: interviewed for this report said th
Page 105 and 106: Qatar, local employers and recruitm
Page 107 and 108: Request for Information Human Right
Page 109 and 110: Sponsorship-related problems: • A
Page 111 and 112: The administration has received no
Page 113 and 114: Regarding healthcare, it is well kn
Page 115 and 116: Qatari laws do not permit charging
Page 117 and 118: Qatar, which require the approval o
Page 119 and 120: 4. Asks the employer or his represe
Page 121 and 122: Regarding training, Article 99 of t
Page 123 and 124: Regarding the second question, on t
Page 125 and 126: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue
Page 127 and 128: process of writing to relevant comp
Page 129 and 130: • arrange for independent monitor
Page 131 and 132: BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 126
Page 133 and 134: World Cup. We have enclosed a summa
Page 135 and 136: deception and the disparity between
Page 137 and 138: CH2M HILL Response to Human Rights
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We would like to take this opportun
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Aspire Logistics Response to Human
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BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 140
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construction industry as a whole an
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• show that you have taken all po
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BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 146
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