Qatar's stance on migrant workers condemned by rights group

LONDON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The rights activist group Amnesty International condemned Qatar's response to alleged ill-treatment of migrant workers, its report said Wednesday.

The workers, constructing venues for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament are subjected to dangerous working conditions, forced labor and unpaid wages, the 12-page report says, adding the government of the oil-rich nation has done little to improve the workers' situation or punish abusers.

Largely because of long hours and Qatar's intense heat, the International Trade Union Confederation has warned up to 4,000 migrant workers could die in construction site accidents before the World Cup begins.

The Amnesty International report follows a longer report released last year, suggesting thousands of workers will die building sites for the event, and thousands more will be victims of forced labor and human trafficking. The 2013 report noted workers are routinely employed 14 hours per day in temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, without access to water, safety equipment or medical care.

"Four years ago, Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup, but so far Qatar have delivered nothing more than promises. Something drastic has to be done to avoid this World Cup being built on exploitation and forced labor," said Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Amnesty International deputy director of global issues.

Sepp Blatter, the head of FIFA, the World Cup organizing body, said Monday there are no plans to move the event from Qatar.