Qatari official Hassan al-Thawadi has revealed shocking new numbers behind the numbers of migrant deaths ahead of the World Cup.
The Middle Eastern nation has been the target of severe criticism both before and during the tournament due to concerns over human rights issues, as well as persecution of members of the LGBT community. Another stark concern at the tournament has been the safety for workers building the stadiums over in Qatar.
A number of migrant workers - mainly from India and Nepal - have been drafted in to assist in the building of arenas. As per The Guardian, around 6,500 of migrant workers have died since Qatar were awarded the right to host the tournament by FIFA 12 years ago.
Officials in Doha have hit back at those claims with official numbers from the country stating that there have been 37 work-related deaths since then, whilst there are only three deaths put down to the building of stadia in the country. However, fresh claims from the secretary-general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Al-Thawadi has suggested that the number is far higher than that.
Speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan, he said: "The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500... I don't have the exact number. That's something that's been discussed."
"One death is a death too many. Plain and simple," Al-Thawadi continued.
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Qatar has attempted to overhaul their labour laws since winning the right to host the World Cup. They have eliminated its so-called kafala system, which tied workers to their employers, who had a say over whether they could leave their jobs or even the country.
Meanwhile, a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals (£225) for workers has been introduced, whilst food and housing allowances for employees not receiving those benefits directly from their employers have also been enforced. Qatar has also updated its worker safety rules to prevent deaths.
Al-Thawadi’s comments threaten to renew criticism by human rights groups over the consequences of hosting the Middle East's first World Cup.
Amnesty International have regularly been critics of the current concerns over migrant deaths despite the progress having been made in the country over recent years. A recent report read: “Despite the positive evolution of Qatar’s labour system, substantial work remains to effectively implement and enforce these [changes]. Ultimately, human rights abuses persist on a significant scale today.”
Speaking before the tournament, Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice said: “Although Qatar has made important strides on labour rights over the past five years, it’s abundantly clear that there is a great distance still to go.
“With the World Cup looming, the job of protecting migrant workers from exploitation is only half done, while that of compensating those who have suffered abuses has barely started. Progress must not grind to a halt once the World Cup roadshow leaves Doha. Turning a blind eye to the abuses suffered by thousands of migrant workers over the years flies in the face of their respective international obligations and responsibilities.”
