A group of nearly 40 Filipino workers who were involved in the construction of stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is suing U.S. construction firm Jacobs Solutions Inc. for subjecting the workers to perilous and inhumane conditions.
The legal complaint accuses Jacobs and its subsidiaries of violating a U.S. law that prohibits trafficked or forced labor, even when such conduct takes place outside the United States. Additionally, the workers have levied accusations of negligence and unjust enrichment against Jacobs. They are seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit.
Daniel Wiessner for Reuters reports,
The nearly 40 plaintiffs in a complaint filed in federal court in Denver, Colorado, said Jacobs and several subsidiaries that oversaw the construction projects forced workers to live in cramped, dirty barracks and work up to 72 hours straight in blistering heat without food and water.
The plaintiffs also claim they were not paid all of their wages and had their passports confiscated, barring them from finding new jobs or returning home to the Philippines.
How FIFA failed migrant workers
The lawsuit asserts that Jacobs and its subsidiaries were aware or should have been aware of human rights violations in Qatar but knowingly exploited the laborers. Jacobs is not alone.
Thousands of migrant workers were involved in construction, hospitality, and other key areas of infrastructure required for the World Cup to take place in Qatar with billions on the tournament.
Meanwhile, workers reportedly suffered widespread abuses including debt bondage, wage theft, being prevented from changing employers, forced to work excessive hours, and having identity documents withheld by unscrupulous employers.
A 2023 investigation by Amnesty International concluded that FIFA failed migrant workers in Qatar by ignoring reports of exploitation and abuse made via the World Cup grievances hotline.
Take action
It is almost a year since the World Cup but migrant workers are still suffering.
The Freedom United community has been urgently calling on Qatari authorities and FIFA to commit to protecting migrant workers from exploitation and remedy human rights abuses endured as a result of the tournament.
The game is over but the fight continues. Keep the momentum for justice going by taking action today.
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