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Article

5 May 2023

Author:
Andrew Mills, Reuters

Qatar: Migrant workers allege labour rights abuse by Stark Security, incl. right to protest

Shutterstock (purchased)

“Jailed, deported and blacklisted: Qatar's outspoken World Cup guards”

Andrew Maganga seized the chance to work as a World Cup security guard in Qatar last year, only to be fired along with some 200 others on the last day of the tournament, jailed for protesting over wages, and deported back to his native Kenya.

At home in Mombasa, he has little to show for four years working various jobs in gas-wealthy Qatar, having spent his savings paying recruitment agents and to support his family.

Maganga's deportation order, seen by Reuters, cited a charge of "labour strike" and banned him from Qatar, which like other Gulf states forbids workers from organising and striking…

Qatar's international media office confirmed that approximately 200 employees of Stark Security, which hired Maganga, were involved in a protest in January…

...Labour rights charity Equidem has documented the deportation of 38 former Stark Security guards to Kenya, India, Pakistan and Nepal…

Qatar's media office said Stark would be penalized for violating the labour law. Stark's parent company, Estithmar Holdings, declined to comment on the case…

Rights groups had warned that security workers were especially vulnerable during the World Cup.

Qatar's World Cup organising committee declined to comment…

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