Qatar arrests 60 protesting workers who have been waiting for their salaries for months | Abroad

The protest took place on 14 August. Video footage posted online shows about 60 workers angry about their salaries demonstrating on the sidewalk outside the offices of Al Bandary International Group, a conglomerate that includes construction, real estate, hotels and restaurants. Equidem, a labor rights agency investigating the case, said some protesters had not been paid for seven months.

In a statement to The Associated Press (AP) last night, the Qatari government acknowledged that “a number of protesters have been arrested for violating public security laws.” Qatar refuses to provide information about arrests or possible deportations.

The head of Equidem says the arrests cast another doubt on Qatar’s commitments to improve the treatment of workers. “Is this the real reality?” asks CEO Mustafa Kadri. He says police arrested and detained protesters in a detention center, with some describing them as being in extreme heat with no air conditioning. The temperature in Doha last week was about 41 degrees.

Like other Arab Gulf states, Qatar relies heavily on foreign labour, especially since stadiums and hotels were recently built for the World Cup. Internationally, there has already been a lot of criticism of the country migrant workers handles.

According to the Associated Press, Al-Bandari International Group could not be reached for comment. The Qatari government acknowledges that the company did not pay salaries and that the Ministry of Labor will pay “all salaries and deferred benefits” to those affected. “The authorities have previously investigated the company over the non-payment of wages for this incident, and further measures are now being taken after the deadline for paying the outstanding salaries has passed,” the government said.