Qatar has launched a piece security investigation into the demise of a Filipino, officers stated on Thursday, following stories that the person died whereas working at a coaching web site in the course of the soccer World Cup.
Qatar’s remedy of migrant staff has come beneath huge scrutiny in the course of the build-up to the match, with human rights teams accusing the Gulf state of systematic labour abuses — fees rejected by the federal government.
Nasser Al Khater, chief govt of the 2022 World Cup in Doha, confirmed to Reuters {that a} employee had died, however gave no additional particulars. He provided his condolences to his household and stated “demise is a pure a part of life.”
The Philippines’ overseas ministry confirmed in a press release that certainly one of its nationals had died whereas working at a resort south of the capital Doha. It stated its embassy was “working with authorized authorities to determine extra particulars of his passing.”
The Athletic on Wednesday reported that the person labored for an organization contracted to repair lights in a carpark on the Sealine Resort, the coaching web site of the Saudi nationwide staff. It stated he died after he slipped off a ramp whereas strolling alongside a forklift and hit his head on concrete.
Citing a number of unnamed sources, it stated the accident occurred in the course of the World Cup, however didn’t specify when.
The assertion from the Philippines stated it might not present additional particulars out of respect for the person’s household. The resort didn’t reply to a Reuters question.
“If the investigation concludes that security protocols weren’t adopted, the corporate shall be topic to authorized motion and extreme monetary penalties,” stated a Qatar authorities official, who declined to be named.
“The speed of work-related accidents has persistently declined in Qatar since strict well being and security requirements have been launched and enforcement has been stepped up,” he stated.
Since being awarded World Cup internet hosting rights in 2010, Qatar had come beneath the microscope over its remedy of migrant staff, who account for almost all of its inhabitants.
The match, the primary to be held within the Center East the place different nations have additionally confronted criticism over migrant staff’ rights, has been mired in controversy with some soccer stars and European official criticising Qatar’s human rights report, together with on labour, LGBT+ and ladies’s rights.
Qatar’s World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Supply and Legacy, stated in a press release that it was not concerned within the Qatari investigation as “the deceased [was] working as a contractor, not beneath the remit of the SC.”
The variety of work-related deaths in Qatar is in dispute.
Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported final yr that at the least 6,500 migrant staff — a lot of them engaged on World Cup tasks — had died in Qatar since 2010, based mostly on its calculations from official data.
In response, Qatar stated the variety of deaths was proportionate to the scale of the migrant workforce, and included many non-manual staff, including that each life misplaced was a tragedy. The SC stated that three work-related deaths and 37 non-work associated deaths had occurred on World Cup associated tasks.
“Demise is a pure a part of life, whether or not it is at work, whether or not it is in your sleep,” Khater stated, voicing disappointment at journalists’ questions on The Athletic report.
“We’re in the midst of a World Cup. And we’ve a profitable World Cup. And that is one thing you need to discuss proper now?” he stated.
