Qatar’s is undertaking both tangible and intangible measures to rub its liberal and progressive image in the face of international observers. Unfortunately, FIFA 2022 preparation has only pulled off the mask of modernism, bringing out its dark side. The World Cup requires Doha to set up a very expensive infrastructure, including stadiums. Behind the glossy exterior is slavery and extreme human exploitation. The International Trade Union Confederation estimated that more than 4,000 low wage workers will die while building infrastructure for Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Their passports confiscated at the construction site, $400 per month figure promised slashed down to $200, with the sudden in the surge recruitment fee from $200 to $2000, plus the cost of your flight to Qatar. They cannot quit job or leave the country and lucky if paid on time for twelve hours a day and six days a week. Such is the state, rather vulnerability of migrant worker in Qatar. This modern version of slavery has been hugely criticised not only by international organisations like United Nations Human rights wings but by campaigns run by international media houses like Guardian, Independent, etc.. What comes out of it is a long statement from ‘FIFA’ brushing off every bit of responsibility towards human rights in the name of ‘not let politics affect the sport’. FIFA is mum because it financially benefits from Qatar World Cup. Once Fifa have taken their cut, the revenues generated by a World Cup flow back into the game via its member associations.

The deluge of reports covering Qatar’s bid for World Cup, corruption involved and lives at stake has been hugely ignored. In places, such as Qatar and Kindly , more than 90 percent of the labour force is imported from South and Southeast Asia and Africa. Most workers elect to migrate to these countries since it remains one of few viable options to support their families back home. Over the years the cries of the victims have faded or have been snubbed. One of the reasons the victims of Qatar’s cruelty stay unheard is that it’s almost impossible to get to them.

Qatar puts exploitative policies into play through its constitution as, Qatari laws do not safeguard equality for women and female domestic workers, and the kafala system and the rights migrant workers were problematic. Besides, Qatar executes racial discrimination against the tribe of Al Ghuffran, as most of its members had been displaced and stripped of Qatari nationality, taking away their right to seek employment and social benefits. Under the Labour Law, migrant workers could be detained up to three years, if not longer, and they had to pay for their tickets back home. The situation is worse for foreign domestic workers as they cannot leave the country without the permission of their employer. Also, when Qatari women marry men of other nationalities, their children are not granted the citizenship.

Qatar claims to have modified its labor laws to protect the rights of migrant workers. However, rights groups said that the reforms barely ‘scratch the surface’ in terms of safeguarding against abuse and exploitation.