Less than three months to the Football World Cup, Qatar has deported several migrant workers for protesting over unpaid wages.
This was disclosed by a labour rights group on Monday.
Recall that the Qatar government, has been under fire from various quarters over the treatment of migrants after it was confirmed that some of the workers who took part in the August 14 protest were detained.
However, it was not clear whether or not they have been expelled.
According to Equidem, a London-based labour rights campaign organisation, no fewer than 60 workers including some who had reportedly not been paid for seven months held up traffic outside the Al Bandary company, during the protest earlier this month in Doha.
“We have spoken to workers involved in the protests (including) one who has been deported back to Nepal, and confirmed he has returned,” said Equidem head Mustafa Qadri said.
“Others from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Egypt and the Philippines have also been deported,” he added.
On Sunday, the Qatar government disclosed that “a number of protesters were detained for breaching public security laws”.
“A minority of protesters who failed to remain peaceful and acted in breach of Qatar’s public security laws face deportation by court order,” the government said.
The government however did not did not disclose how many people were deported.
Meanwhile, the labour ministry revealed that it is paying salaries and benefits owed to Al Bandary workers adding that “further action” was being taken against the company, which was already under investigation for failing to pay wages.”
Qatar has been accused severally of under-reporting deaths among migrant workers and of not doing enough to alleviate harsh conditions. Unpaid wages have also been frequently raised.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup scheduled to commence in on November 20, Rights Groups have stepped up their campaigns ahead of the World Cup and called on FIFA to pay compensation to workers, as the government has highlighted major reforms it has introduced.
According to Qatar government, iIt has introduced a minimum wage, dismantled a scheme that gave employers stringent rights over workers, and toughened rules on working in summer heat.
Nearly all “eligible workers” are covered by a new wage protection system as part of the reforms, authorities said.