Amnesty International: Qatar World Cup Stadium Workers Unpaid

A foreign worker at a supermarket sanitizes shopping carts in Doha, Qatar on 23 May 2020. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
A foreign worker at a supermarket sanitizes shopping carts in Doha, Qatar on 23 May 2020. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
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Amnesty International: Qatar World Cup Stadium Workers Unpaid

A foreign worker at a supermarket sanitizes shopping carts in Doha, Qatar on 23 May 2020. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
A foreign worker at a supermarket sanitizes shopping carts in Doha, Qatar on 23 May 2020. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL

Migrant laborers at a stadium under construction for the World Cup in Qatar went unpaid for up to seven months, rights group Amnesty International revealed Thursday.

Around a hundred workers at Al-Bayt stadium have yet to be paid outstanding wages in full, the organization said following a months-long investigation.

Some received partial payments on June 7.

Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice, said: “This case is the latest damning illustration of how easy it still is to exploit workers in Qatar, even when they are building one of the crown jewels of the World Cup.

“Although recent payments will provide some welcome relief for workers, Qatar’s World Cup organizers told us they had known about the salary delays since July 2019. This raises the question of why Qatar allowed workers to continue working for months without pay.”

Responding to the findings, FIFA said it contacted Qatar’s Supreme Committee once it became aware of the case following Amnesty’s investigation, and is now working to ensure that outstanding salaries are paid.



Saudi Arabia Urges Need to End Suffering in Gaza

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Need to End Suffering in Gaza

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia called on Monday for an end to the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza in wake of Israel’s war on the enclave.

On behalf of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in the first session of the second day of the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro.

Prince Faisal stressed that the grave crises around the world serve as a reminder of shared responsibilities and the urgent need to avoid escalation to maintain security and prevent the expansion of conflicts.

On Gaza, he condemned the Israeli attacks on health infrastructure and the targeting of civilians, describing them as “blatant violations of international humanitarian law and a direct challenge to the rules-based international order”.

Prince Faisal called on the international community “to shoulder its responsibilities in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians”.

“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza cannot be overlooked,” he said, urging “serious international efforts to end the crisis and achieve a lasting, comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with international law.”

The Kingdom is attending the summit as an invited country to join the BRICS group. The session was titled: Environment, United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), and Global Health.

Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of boosting cooperation in the fields of climate and health, reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. He called for a practical and balanced approach that considers the diverse circumstances of different countries.

He further noted that the Kingdom, as one of the countries facing water scarcity, has developed advanced methods and technologies to manage environmental and water resource challenges. He highlighted Saudi Arabia's leadership in establishing the Global Water Organization, which aims to ensure equitable access to this vital resource.

On the health sector, Prince Faisal stated that Saudi Vision 2030 includes comprehensive reforms focused on prevention and integrated care. He also reviewed the Kingdom’s expertise in managing large gatherings such as Hajj and Umrah and in developing planning and early warning systems, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for health emergency preparedness and response in accordance with international standards.