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2022년 카타르 월드컵 경기장을 건설하는 과정에서 사망한 외국인 노동자 수가 1,200명에 달한다고 외신들이 세계노동조합연맹의 보고서를 인용해 보도했다.
16일(현지시간)에 공개된 세계노동조합연맹의 보고서에 따르면 카타르의 건설 현장의 작업 환경이 열악하며 월드컵이 개최되는 2022년까지 총 사망자 수는 4,000명에 달할 것으로 예상했다.
보고서에서 밝힌 이 수치는 지난 달 카타르 내 각국 대사관들이 밝힌 수치와 일치한다. 네팔 대사관은 2010년 월드컵 공사가 시작된 이후 400명이 숨졌으며 인도 대사관은 2012년 이후 사망자수가 500명에 이른다고 밝혔다.
월스트리트저널에 따르면 카타르는 다른 걸프 연안국가들처럼 외국인 노동 인력에 대한 의존도가 높다. 대부분은 파키스탄, 네팔, 방글라데시, 아프리카 국가 출신이다.
이들은 "카팔라 시스템" 하에서 수용소에 갇혀 일하거나 어떤 경우 여권을 압수 당하기도 한다고 이 보고서는 밝혔다.
이에 대해 카타르 월드컵 조직위원회는 월스트리트저널과 가진 이메일 인터뷰에서 세계노종조합연맹이 발표한 보고서는 "사실적 오류로 가득찬 쓰레기이며 우리의 긍정적인 기여에 대한 명예를 떨어뜨리려는 시도"라며 비난을 일축했다.
"문제가 있다는 건 알지만 그게 하루 아침에 바뀔 수는 없는 것"이라며 이 문제를 해결할 "의지"가 있다고 월드컵 조직위는 밝혔다.
이 보고서는 공사현장 관리자와 회사 관계자의 말을 인용하며 현장에서 외국인 노동자가 겪는 비인간적인 대우를 고발했다.
지난 해 9월 가디언은 카타르 루사일市의 공사 현장에서 일하는 인부들은 "현대판 노예"라고 명하며 그들이 처한 열악한 상황을 꼬집었다.
(코리아헤럴드 옥현주 인턴기자 laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
‘Bloody’ Qatar World Cup will see 4,000 deaths by 2022: report
The International Trade Union Confederation has issued a report against Qatar, citing unfair treatment of foreign workers seeking better working conditions. The ITUC said that 1,200 migrants from India and Nepal had died in Qatar since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup. It also added that an estimated 4,000 migrant workers will die on account of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The figures in the report match those of reports issued by the Nepalese embassy, which stated that 400 Nepalese had died while working on World Cup projects since 2010. The Indian embassy in Qatar has recorded 500 deaths of Indians since 2012.
According to The Wall Street Journal, like many Gulf countries, Qatar depends on a foreign labor force, mainly from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and parts of Africa, but treatment of the workers is typically poor. Many of them are housed in labor camps and sometimes, under the “kafala” system, their passports are withheld by employers to keep them from running away.
However, the Qatari World Cup organizing committee told the WSJ via an emailed statement that the ITUC report is “littered with factual errors and attempts to discredit the positive work we are undertaking,” expressing disappointment in the report.
“The International Trade Union Confederation’s statement that our standards have no credible enforcement mechanism is hence both incorrect and misleading,” the committee told the WSJ. “We know that there are issues. While this process of change is not something that can be achieved overnight, we have the will and the commitment to see it through.”
The controversial reports about poor treatment of the workers in Qatar have cited alleged inhumane acts by construction companies and construction site managers. In September 2013, the Guardian reported on working conditions at the Lusail City construction site, calling Qatar a “modern day slaver.”
Business Insider also pointed out that Qatar’s initial promise to hold the event in summer by using space-age cooling systems was immediately abandoned. FIFA will vote in 2015 to decide whether the World Cup should be held in winter to avoid the harsh summer weather.
Allegations that about $2 million worth of bribes were accepted by ex-FIFA president Jack Warner have added to Qatar’s problems. The Telegraph reported that the FBI is investigating Warner for taking $2 million from a Qatari company soon after the 2022 World Cup vote. A man who has been banned for life from FIFA is the owner of the company under scrutiny for bribing Warner. The man was found guilty of other bribery charges.
Despite widespread criticism, the Qatari government has not been doing much to contain or to combat the negative press.
By Ha Ji-won, Intern reporter (jiwonha@heraldcorp.com)
‘Bloody’ Qatar World Cup will see 4,000 deaths by 2022: report
The International Trade Union Confederation has issued a report against Qatar, citing unfair treatment of foreign workers seeking better working conditions. The ITUC said that 1,200 migrants from India and Nepal had died in Qatar since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup. It also added that an estimated 4,000 migrant workers will die on account of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The figures in the report match those of reports issued by the Nepalese embassy, which stated that 400 Nepalese had died while working on World Cup projects since 2010. The Indian embassy in Qatar has recorded 500 deaths of Indians since 2012.
According to The Wall Street Journal, like many Gulf countries, Qatar depends on a foreign labor force, mainly from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and parts of Africa, but treatment of the workers is typically poor. Many of them are housed in labor camps and sometimes, under the “kafala” system, their passports are withheld by employers to keep them from running away.
However, the Qatari World Cup organizing committee told the WSJ via an emailed statement that the ITUC report is “littered with factual errors and attempts to discredit the positive work we are undertaking,” expressing disappointment in the report.
“The International Trade Union Confederation’s statement that our standards have no credible enforcement mechanism is hence both incorrect and misleading,” the committee told the WSJ. “We know that there are issues. While this process of change is not something that can be achieved overnight, we have the will and the commitment to see it through.”
The controversial reports about poor treatment of the workers in Qatar have cited alleged inhumane acts by construction companies and construction site managers. In September 2013, the Guardian reported on working conditions at the Lusail City construction site, calling Qatar a “modern day slaver.”
Business Insider also pointed out that Qatar’s initial promise to hold the event in summer by using space-age cooling systems was immediately abandoned. FIFA will vote in 2015 to decide whether the World Cup should be held in winter to avoid the harsh summer weather.
Allegations that about $2 million worth of bribes were accepted by ex-FIFA president Jack Warner have added to Qatar’s problems. The Telegraph reported that the FBI is investigating Warner for taking $2 million from a Qatari company soon after the 2022 World Cup vote. A man who has been banned for life from FIFA is the owner of the company under scrutiny for bribing Warner. The man was found guilty of other bribery charges.
Despite widespread criticism, the Qatari government has not been doing much to contain or to combat the negative press.
By Ha Ji-won, Intern reporter (jiwonha@heraldcorp.com)
