Qatar 2022: Pakistani security guards engaged during World Cup detained & deported following wage complaint; incl. FIFA response
In March 2023, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited FIFA to respond to an ITV report concerning Pakistani security workers employed during the Qatar World Cup. The report alleges that the workers were left unpaid and when they raised a complaint they were arrested and deported. Workers also said they paid for work visas. FIFA and NGO Equidem identified the security company as Stark Security Services.
The response from FIFA can be read in full below; Stark Security Services did not respond to the Resource Centre's request. In May, Reuters reported 200 Stark Security workers had been fired on the last day of the tournament and did not comply with the reform introduced in 2020 of a month-long notice period. The government media office confirmed Stark Security would be penalised under the labour law; its parent company, Estithmar Holdings, did not comment.