British Overseas Territory: KBR allegedly “mistreating” migrant workers on UK & USA military base, incl. failure to repatriate worker's body after unexplained death, incl. co comment
Resumen
Fecha comunicada: 19 Nov 2023
Ubicación: Territorio británico del océano Índico
Empresas
Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) - EmployerOtro
Government ( Militares/defensa ) - BuyerAfectado
Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido
Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( 3 - Filipinas , Limpieza y mantenimiento , Men , Undocumented migrants ) , Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( Número desconocido - India , Limpieza y mantenimiento , Men , Unknown migration status ) , Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( Número desconocido - Filipinas , Limpieza y mantenimiento , Women , Unknown migration status ) , Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( Número desconocido - Mauritania , Limpieza y mantenimiento , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Temas
Muertes , Acceso a medicinas , Acceso a recursos no judiciales , Intimidación y Amenazas , Negación de la libertad de expresión , Salario mínimo , Sustitución de contratoRespuesta
Respuesta buscada: Sí, por Journalists
Link externo para respuesta (Más información)
Medidas adoptadas: KBR allege the worker, who had no underlying health conditions, became sick with a fever and died of a heart attack. The family have not been provided with any further details about what caused his death. The defence contractor said Ali “passed before it [the medevac] could arrive.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “The UK government and the British Indian Ocean Territory [BIOT] administration take any allegations of forced labour or human trafficking extremely seriously.” The three Filipinos are still working on the base, it is understood. KBR refuted allegations that it recruited undocumented workers and denied the FCDO investigation took place. On contract changes ,KBR said: “We have since invested in culturally appropriate food for non-Filipino employees. Accordingly, when these employees’ contracts expire, we explain that new contracts would provide free meals instead of the food stipends if they want to continue working on the island...KBR pays its employees on Diego Garcia lawful compensation and provides good and safe working conditions. Our Filipino employees choose to work for us because of this". A KBR spokesperson also told journalists that the total compensation given to the Filipino workforce exceeds the Philippine government’s mandated hourly rate “when housing, food, medical coverage, and other benefits are included”.
Tipo de fuente: News outlet
“Family still wait for return of migrant worker’s body after unexplained death on UK-US military base”
A major US defence contractor has failed to repatriate the body of a migrant worker who died under unexplained circumstances on the British-owned island of Diego Garcia more than a month ago, the Observer has learned.
Saddam Ali died after a short illness …on the secretive joint UK-US military base…His family allege that KBR … failed to get the 33-year-old Indian sufficient medical assistance…
…KBR said: “Saddam reported ill to us Monday, 16 October and we transferred him to the naval doctors and called a medevac [medical evacuation] for him that same day.”
…Hasan and three KBR workers claim Ali’s body remains on Diego Garcia…
…Questions over the potential mishandling of Ali’s medical care comes amid allegations that KBR is “mistreating” its migrant workforce on the base…
… UK officials suspected KBR of recruiting undocumented workers for the military base…
KBR…refuted allegations that it recruited undocumented workers and denied the FCDO investigation took place…
All the interviewees requested anonymity. They allege a culture of fear on the base, with managers telling staff there is a zero-tolerance policy for workers who speak out…