Qatar does not want a compensation fund for workers who died on construction sites

Despite pressure from NGOs, Qatar says no to a compensation fund for migrant workers. Qatari Labor Minister Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri sees appeals from these organizations as a ‘communication stunt’ as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers have suffered human rights abuses in Qatar during Cup preparations 2022, as Amnesty International wrote in a report released in May.

“Each death is a tragedy (but) there are no criteria for establishing this fund” of compensation, advances the minister. “Where are the victims? Do you have the names? “, he asks, while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are leading a campaign to obtain compensation for workers who are victims of “abuse” (deaths, injuries, unpaid wages, etc.) from Fifa and the host country.

Qatar advances the figure of 320 million euros paid in 2022

The minister recalled that his country had set up a compensation fund in 2018 for workers who do not receive their wages, putting forward the figure of 320 million euros paid in 2022 alone.

“If a person entitled to compensation has not received it, let them come forward and we will help them,” he insisted, adding that Qatar is ready to examine cases dating back more than ten years. year.

As criticism intensifies as the event approaches, organizations and countries are trying to “discredit Qatar with deliberately misleading claims”, Mr. Marri also said. According to him, some foreign politicians are making the Gulf country “an arena to solve their own political problems”.

Amnesty calls for a reparations fund of 420 million euros

These criticisms are sometimes “motivated by racism”, he adds. “They don’t want to allow a small country, an Arab country, a Muslim country, to organize the World Cup.”

Amnesty International estimates the amount of reparations to be provided to the victims by Fifa and Qatar at 420 million euros. Mr. Marri claimed on Wednesday that such a compensation fund was not feasible. Fifa, for its part, had indicated in mid-October that there was an “ongoing dialogue” for measures in favor of workers on construction sites.