Catherwood LibraryILR School

Workers’ rights bodies and critics of Qatar’s historic treatment of migrant workers, particularly those working on the construction of new infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, celebrated today as the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) union signed an agreement with QDVC, a Qatari developer, and VINCI, a French construction company. This agreement makes significant strides towards guaranteeing the rights of workers in Qatar, taking steps to reduce the possibility of employer exploitation of vulnerable laborers. While the agreement does not apply to all Qatari businesses, it does require one of the country’s largest developers to meet international standards in worker welfare and treatment. Some of the conditions within the agreement include requiring the notification of workers of their rights in clear written language and eliminating recruitment fees for migrant workers. Parties to the agreement hope that this will set a standard for similar organizations and companies within Qatar, hopefully improving the country’s previously dismissive attitude towards workers’ rights.