Summary
Date Reported: 27 Jul 2020
Location:
Qatar
In this three-part series, migrant worker "Noah", who first moved to Doha, Qatar in 2016 and has worked there for two periods, writes of his lived experience for NGO Migrant-Rights.org. In the articles, Noah details his employment with Certis, a Qatari security company that provides workers to projects and clients, including banks, government departments and hotels.
The series alleges that 2,000 workers employed by Certis are currently housed in accommodation in the Industrial Area of Doha in substandard conditions. When reports emerged of an outbreak of COVID-19 among workers housed in the Industrial Area, the workers were relocated to Rastec Villas, where they were also allegedly subject to poor and extremely cramped living conditions.
In the series' second installments who were out of work as the company had not renewed contracts, but had also not granted the workers no objection certificates so that they were unable to look for alternative accommodation. Workers were essentially confined to the accommodation. They were also suffering from irregular wage payments and inexplicable salary deductions without proper payslips.
In May 2021, Noah/Malcolm Bidali was arrested by the Qatari authorities because of his reporting.
Companies
Alfardan Properties
- Client
,
Commercial Bank (CBQ)
- Client
,
Frasers Hospitality
- Client
,
GSS Certis (Certis subsidiary)
- Employer
,
Hamad International Airport
- Client
,
Jaidah
- Client
,
Temasek
,
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
- Client
,
Mannai Corporation
- Client
,
Marriott
- Client
,
Kempinski Hotels
- Client
,
Qatar General Electricity & Water (KAHRAMAA)
- Client
,
Qatar National Bank (QNB)
- Client
,
Rastec Properties
- Client
,
Sephora
- Client
,
IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Client
Projects
Fraser Suites Doha
- Client
,
Hamad International Airport (expansion)
- Client
,
InterContinental Doha Hotel
- Client
,
Marsa Malaz Kempinski
- Client
,
The St. Regis Doha
- Client
,
The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
- Client
,
W Doha
- Client
,
Msheireb Downtown Doha
- Client
Other
Government (
Sector not reported/applicable
)
- Unknown
Affected
Total individuals affected:
2000
Migrant & immigrant workers: (
2000
- Location unknown
, Security companies
, Gender not reported
)
Issues
Intimidation
,
Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions
,
Restricted mobility
,
Freedom of Expression
,
Right to Food
,
Personal Health
,
Wage Theft
,
Freedom of Movement
,
Imprisonment
Response
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response:
(Find out more)
Action taken: Noah approached the client who had subcontracted him, Msheireb Properties, and its parent, Qatar Foundation, detailing the poor living conditions he and other employees were living in through their whistleblowing procedures. Whilst Qatar Foundation had responded, the situation remained unchanged until Migrant-Rights.org published the below pieces and the workers on the Msheireb Downtown Doha project were rehoused in accommodation with more space.
Workers employed by Certis deployed on other projects, however, remain in the camp in "indecent" and "hazardous" accommodation.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre approached Certis and their holding company Temasek, the landlord, 10 companies who were allegedly being provided with security guards by Certis from the camp, and 3 hotel companies who had previously sourced these workers.
In May 2021, Noah/Malcolm Bidali was arrested by the Qatari authority, ostensibly because of his activism. He has been released and charged with spreading disinformation and receiving payments from a "foreign agent". See our ongoing coverage of Malcolm's case here.