DOHA, July 13 (AFP): World Cup 2022 host Qatar, under international criticism over working conditions for migrant workers, said recruitment agencies in Asia were the main party to blame for any abuse.
A report commissioned by the Qatar Foundation chaired by the ruling emir's mother charged that the rights of migrants, mainly Asians, are flouted in their home countries from the moment they sign up for work.
"Critics of human and labour rights violations most often shift the blame to Qatar in a rather generic manner," said the report focused on workers from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
"Far less attention has been given to the violations by the migrants' own nationals in their countries of origin, in addition to those who are complicit in Qatar," it said.
The energy-rich Gulf nation has come under international pressure to clamp down on violations of the rights of migrant workers, specially those building World Cup infrastructure.
The report insisted that this criticism underscores the need to determine the level of abuse committed at the recruitment stage, and introduce legislation in order to stamp it out.
"It is necessary to ascertain to what extent trafficking, debt bondage and forced labour, that largely result from recruitment processes... could be addressed and leveraged by the Qatari authorities," it said.
The Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organisation promoting education, science, and community development. It is chaired by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Masnad -- the mother of Qatar's emir.
Qatar blames recruiters abroad for labour abuse
FE Team | Published: July 14, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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