“… in the most extreme examples, foreign migrant workers have become suicidal after being trapped without pay by employers in Qatar. They have been forced to depend on charity from others simply to eat. Meanwhile, their family members in poor communities in their countries of origin can face eviction and other serious challenges…”
US Senate Testimony on Qatar Labor Exploitation by Sunjeev Bery
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security
“Examining the Governance and Integrity of International Soccer”
July 15, 2015
Verbal Remarks (PDF) / Written Testimony (PDF) / Hearing Page / CSPAN Video
Media: New York Times (1, 2), Guardian, USA Today, Reuters, Bloomberg, Vice News, McClatchy DC, Roll Call
Full Text of Verbal Remarks:
“Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, distinguished members of the Subcommittee, and distinguished guests: On behalf of Amnesty International, thank you for the opportunity to address the issue of human rights in Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has brought into global focus the shocking conditions that are routine for migrant workers in Qatar.
Under Qatar’s Kafala employment sponsorship system, foreign migrant workers cannot change employers or leave Qatar without the permission of their current employer. Even if an employer is not paying the employee, the employer can still block the employee from changing jobs or leaving the country.
In 2012, the Qatar National Research Fund funded a survey of some 1,000 low-income labor migrants: Continue reading “Qatar, FIFA, and Labor Exploitation – My Senate Testimony”
Sunjeev Bery 