In December of 2010 Qatar, a Middle Eastern country was given the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the small country lacked much of the infrastructure necessary to support such an event. Thus, construction quickly began to build new stadiums, an airport, hotels, public transportation systems, and more. To supply the labor necessary to complete these construction projects, the country hired migrant workers from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Many workers lived in labor camps with eight to twelve men sharing a room, unhygienic kitchens and toilets, and locations far from their work sites.
In addition to their already long hours, many workers have to spend hours traveling to and from work daily. Although it has long been known there was a high death toll among the labor force, the issue is recently gaining more attention after The Guardian released a study that found over 6,500 migrant workers have died since construction began. On average, 12 workers have died per week from the five South Asian countries. While most of these deaths are recorded as “natural deaths”, meaning they were sudden and unexplained, there is no real understanding of the cause of death as Qatar rarely performs autopsies.
During the summer temperatures average at 113 degrees, therefore, the extreme heat likely plays a role in many of the deaths. However, a significant number of deaths have also been the result of workplace accidents, suicides, and traffic accidents. When asked, Qatar authorities have refused to investigate these deaths and the conditions that may explain the large number. In 2014, Qatar’s government lawyers suggested to amend the law to “allow for autopsies… in all cases of unexpected or sudden death” and to commission a study into the migrant workers deaths. However, neither of these have been completed.
Sources
Comments