‘Qatar deserves the best’ say signs along important roads in Doha, the capital of Qatar where one in every five people is a Nepali migrant worker. The whole city looks like a construction site as the country builds railways and stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar has the third-largest reserves of natural gas in the world, and has the highest per capita income in the world. Nepali, Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Pakistani and Egyptian workers can be seen in protective gear toiling in the 45 degree midday heat.
There are concerns about labour conditions. A worker is owned by his employer, there are often prolonged delays or non-payment of wages which means workers fall behind in repayment of debt that got them here in the first place. Every migrant worker must have a ‘sponsor’ who must also be his employer. The migrant worker cannot change jobs without permission, and cannot leave the country since the employer keeps the passport.
