Bosses act dumb as desert death toll mounts
A report says the figures behind the construction of the site for the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been working their people to death, and will have to answer for a significant toll by the time the stadiums are complete.
There was worldwide surprise when the small nation of Qatar was awarded hosting rights for the world’s second largest sporting event. Reports from British newspapers say that the onsite managers and bankrollers are treating migrant works as “modern slaves”.
Many of the labourers are being brought in from Nepal to toil in truly horrendous conditions. Journalist Pete Pattison said he had seen several who have not been paid for months, while others have been denied access to drinking water.
The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said it was as shocked as anyone at revelations a worker dies nearly every day.
“Like everyone viewing the video and images and reading the accompanying texts, we are appalled by the findings presented in The Guardian's report,” the committee said in a statement.
“The health, safety, wellbeing and dignity of every worker that contributes to staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup is of the utmost importance to our committee.”
The tiny gulf state has been pushing itself and its workers beyond the limit to finish work on the massive project by kick-off time in 2022.
World sporting authority FIFA has said the evidence of human rights abuses has caused them great concern, and will be brought up with the bosses responsible at n upcoming Executive Committee Meeting.
The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee says it has been working Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.