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 Foreign Minister Receives UNRWA Commissioner-General

Saudi FM receives UNRWA Commissioner-General. (SPA)
Saudi FM receives UNRWA Commissioner-General. (SPA)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Receives UNRWA Commissioner-General

Saudi FM receives UNRWA Commissioner-General. (SPA)
Saudi FM receives UNRWA Commissioner-General. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Wednesday the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the strong partnership between the Kingdom and UNRWA. They also reviewed recent regional developments and the ongoing efforts to address key challenges related to these issues.
In a related context, Arab reactions continue after Israel’s publications of maps annexing parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Israel’s “extremist” acts that reflect Israel’s “intentions to consolidate its occupation and continue its flagrant violation of the sovereignty of those nations.”
Saudi Arabia reiterated its call for the international community to fulfill its role in halting Israel’s violations against the countries and peoples of the region.
The Kingdom emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty and borders of nations to prevent further escalation of regional crises and to support efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive peace.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s maps publications, saying it “reflects a state of right-wing extremism and religious obsession prevailing within the Israeli government”.