Qatar: Thousands of Migrant Workers Still Denied Wages Despite 'Reform' Claims

According to a new report from Amnesty International, thousands of migrant workers in Qatar continue to face widespread wage theft and are being denied access to the justice system despite the government's highly publicized labor reforms. As reported by Amnesty, the 'Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund,' which was established to provide a safety net for unpaid employees, has become effectively dysfunctional due to bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of funding. The organization reports that many workers who won court cases against their employers years ago are still waiting for their promised compensation. According to the findings, the Kafala system remains present in practice, as workers still fear retaliation, including deportation or arbitrary detention, if they attempt to change jobs without employer consent. Amnesty International reports that since the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup, international attention has faded, allowing the Qatari authorities to backslide on their commitments. The report details accounts from workers in the construction and hospitality sectors who claim they have not been paid for over six months and are living in squalid conditions without valid residency permits. As stated by the organization, the Qatari government has prioritized its international image over the physical and financial security of the millions of expats who built the nation's infrastructure. According to the report, the lack of enforcement of labor laws makes the existing legislation 'nothing more than paper reforms.' Amnesty calls on the Qatari government to immediately recapitalize the support fund and end the practice of arbitrary travel bans used against critics of the labor regime.