Qatar: Migrant workers still struggling for justice two years after World Cup

As reported by Amnesty International, thousands of migrant workers in Qatar continue to face systemic obstacles in their search for justice and compensation for abuses suffered during the preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2022. According to the organization, despite the highly publicized labor reforms introduced by the Qatari government, the reality on the ground remains characterized by wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and the persistent influence of the kafala system. The report alleges that many workers who returned to their home countries are still owed months of back pay and have received no restitution for injuries or the deaths of family members. Amnesty International reported that the 'Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund' established by Qatar is insufficient and frequently inaccessible to those who have already left the country. The source highlights that the reforms, such as the minimum wage and the ability to change employers, are often bypassed by unscrupulous companies who face little to no accountability from the Qatari authorities. Furthermore, the report criticizes FIFA for its failure to insist on a comprehensive remediation fund, accusing the sporting body of being complicit in the exploitation by ignoring the long-term human cost of the tournament. The article details specific cases of workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya who describe a cycle of debt and exploitation that began with illegal recruitment fees and ended with unpaid labor. According to Amnesty, the Qatari government’s narrative of progress is a 'façade' that masks the ongoing suffering of the vulnerable population that built the nation's infrastructure. The reporting emphasizes that without a meaningful mechanism for retrospective justice, the legacy of the 2022 World Cup will remain stained by the blood and sweat of exploited laborers who have been abandoned by both the host nation and the international football governing body.