During the protest this month in Doha, at least 60 workers — including some who had reportedly not been paid for seven months — held up traffic outside the Al Bandary company, according to Equidem, a London-based labour rights campaign organization
The Qatari government has reportedly deported Indian migrant workers for staging a rare protest against unpaid wages, according to a labour rights group.
During the protest this month in Doha, at least 60 workers — including some who had reportedly not been paid for seven months — held up traffic outside the Al Bandary company, according to Equidem, a London-based labour rights campaign organisation.
“We have spoken to workers involved in the protests (including) one who has been deported back to Nepal, and confirmed he has returned. Others from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Egypt and the Philippines have also been deported,” said Equidem head Mustafa Qadri.
According to an AFP report, the Qatar government, which has been in the news for the treatment of migrants, confirmed that some of the workers who took part in the August 14 protest were detained, but had given no details as to whether they had been expelled.
Qatar’s government said on August 21 that “a number of protesters were detained for breaching public security laws”. It also pointed out that “a minority of protesters who failed to remain peaceful and acted in breach of Qatar’s public security laws face deportation by court order”.
Authorities say that nearly all “eligible workers” were covered by a new wage protection system as part of the reforms.
The Qatari government, however, did not provide details of how many workers were involved. The labour ministry said it paid salaries and benefits owed to Al Bandary workers. It added that “further action” was being taken against the company, which was already under investigation for failing to pay wages.
The FIFA World Cup starts in Qatar on November 20. Reports of Qatar under-reporting deaths among migrant workers and of not doing enough to alleviate harsh conditions have surfaced. Unpaid wages have also been frequently raised.
While rights groups have stepped up their campaigns ahead of the World Cup and called on FIFA to pay compensation to workers, the government has highlighted major reforms it has introduced. It has introduced a minimum wage, dismantled a scheme that gave employers stringent rights over workers, and toughened rules on working in summer heat. Authorities say that nearly all “eligible workers” were covered by a new wage protection system as part of the reforms.
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