Visa scams and a collapsed job market mean that 100 days on from the World Cup final, many workers face destitution despite promises of rights reforms
On the top floor of one block, Ahmad shares a tiny room with nine others. They sleep in four bunk beds packed into the room. Two more sleep on mattresses on the floor. A few packets of– flat breads similar to pitta – lie on the floor. “That’s what we mostly eat. Kaboos and plain rice,” he says.
The agent had assured Ahmad that he could convert the card into a work visa on arrival, but by the time he realised that was a lie, it was too late. “I want to go home, but I don’t want to go home,” says Ahmad. “The money I owe is keeping me here. I don’t need anything for myself. I just need to be able to settle my debts.”
“Workers who entered Qatar on free visas and are facing difficulty are encouraged to seek immediate assistance from the Ministry of Labour to resolve their situation,” added a spokesperson.
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