Are migrant workers being protected during coronavirus?
From Freedom United
Today [May 1] is International Workers’ Day, marked around the world to remember workers’ struggles for hard-won rights and to call for the protection of decent working conditions and demand justice against labor exploitation.
The impact of COVID-19 on the world’s workforce cannot be underestimated as those most vulnerable to exploitation are hit hardest, particularly poor, marginalized and migrant workers in key industries keeping our societies afloat.
Yet, the treatment of some migrant workers has been alarming. Amnesty International recently reported that dozens of migrant workers in Qatar have been tricked into detention and deportation under the guise of being tested for COVID-19.
Migrant workers in Qatar are already at a disadvantage under the kafala system – a sponsorship system of employment tying migrant workers to their employer – leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and becoming trapped in modern slavery.
Whilst Qatar removed the requirement for exit visas for the majority of migrant workers in January[1] signaling a strong commitment to fully abolish the kafala system, Amnesty International’s report is a stark reminder of the need to keep a spotlight on how migrant workers are treated, particularly in the fog of a global pandemic.
In March, hundreds of unsuspecting workers were reportedly detainedby authorities whilst away from their accommodation. Some were explicitly told that they were being taken to be tested for COVID-19 and instead ended up in cramped jail cells where they learned they were going to be deported.
Amnesty International reports:[2]
“One man told Amnesty: “We were asked to stop to test for the virus. Police told us that the doctor would come and check the virus. But they lied to us.”
One Nepali man told Amnesty: “The jail was full of people. We were given one piece of bread each day, which was not enough. All the people were fed in a group, with food lying on plastic on the floor. Some were not able to snatch the food because of the crowd.”
Out of the 20 interviewed, only three said they had their temperature checked while they were in the detention facility.
While they were in detention, the men interviewed were told they were being expelled, with some only learning about it while being taken to the airport. Expulsions took place on 15 and 19 March and none were able to challenge their detention or expulsion.”
Workers interviewed by Amnesty International, some of whom have large debts to pay, may now be at risk of exploitationfrom moneylenders back home.
The Qatar government responded claiming that those who had been detained were involved in criminal activity including “the manufacture and sale of banned and prohibited substances, along with the sale of dangerous food goods that could seriously threaten the health of people if consumed”[3] – we understand that none of the workers were made aware of these charges and none were able to contest the charges against them.
Instead of detaining migrant workers, where their risk of contracting Covid-19 is much greater, and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation, the government of Qatar should move to reduce it by abolishing the kafala system and ensure migrant workers’ immigration status isn’t tied to their employer.
As the world grapples with the effects of COVID-19, we must stand in solidarity with migrant workers everywhere and demand they be protected from exploitation and modern slavery.
Take action for migrant workers in Qatar today – let’s reach 100,000 voices demanding an end to forced labor this International Workers’ Day.
In solidarity,
Miriam, Joanna, Allan, Carlo, Herrana, Zahra and the Freedom United team
[1] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/qatar-takes-further-steps-to-abolish-kafala-system/
[2] https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/qatar-migrant-workers-tricked-detention-then-expelled-during-covid-19-pandemic
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] ibid
