The 2022 Qatar World Cup
A shroud of controversy has long surrounded the 2022 Qatar World Cup. From allegations of bribes, to the alleged support of terrorism, the process has been under constant scrutiny. However, this article will be focusing on the construction environment in Qatar and how it is dangerous and often fatal.
The World Cup is an event that is enjoyed and adored (not so much by England fans in recent years) worldwide. Understandably, the Qataris are ecstatic to be hosting the event. However, the more you read about the 2022 Qatar World Cup the more horrified you become.
Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Their construction industry is booming. However, the industry relies on migrant workers to undertake the vast majority of the work, around two million of them. Many of whom hail from nearby countries such as Nepal and India.
The working conditions in the Qatari industry are appalling, poor pay and living conditions are common. Furthermore, in the summer the only people outside for long periods of time are construction workers. Current regulations prohibit outdoor work between 11:30 and 15:00. However, they don’t consider what conditions are like outside of this period. During the hottest times of the year most of the day in Qatar is dangerous for construction workers.
It is clear to many that these dangerous conditions play a big role in the high death rate of workers. There is also a refusal to investigate worker deaths and release data concerning this. Clearly, this is a complete disregard of responsibility.
The Stats
The International Trades Union Confederation released a report stating that around 1200 workers have died since 2010. The report also predicts that a total of 4000 workers will die by the time the World Cup starts. Not all of these workers will have been working on World Cup projects, but many will have.
Lets put these numbers into context. In 2016 30 people in the UK died in the construction industry. During the construction process for the 2014 world cup in Brazil 7 people died. For the London Olympics in 2012 there were no fatalities during construction. In fact the highest fatality rate during construction for a sporting event was the 60 people killed in Sochi for the winter Olympics.
Evidently, there is a huge problem in Qatar. Many migrant workers are travelling to the country for work to end up never going home. The Guardian revealed that workers from Nepal in 2014 were dying at the rate of one every two days! Something needs doing about this. The World Cup is an event that should bring joy and enjoyment, but at what cost?
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