Qatar World Cup official Nasser Al-Khater has come under fire for comments made following the death of a Filipino migrant worker during the World Cup - stating that 'death is a natural part of life' when asked about the tragic fatality.
Authorities in Qatar have launched an investigation after reports found that the man in question was involved in a forklift truck incident, slipping off a ramp whilst walking alongside the vehicle at Saudi Arabia's training base.
Questioned about the incident and how it will affect the tournament going forward, Al-Khater responded by saying: “We’re in the middle of a World Cup and we have a successful World Cup and this is something you want to talk about right now? I mean, death is a natural part of life, whether it’s at work, whether it’s in your sleep. Of course, a worker died – our condolences go to his family. However, you know, I mean it’s strange that this is something you want to focus on as your first question.”
That has brought outrage across the globe, with many bewildered at the sheer thoughtlessness and lack of sympathy shown by Al-Khater, especially given the controversies surrounding not only the bidding process of the Qatar World Cup, but the seismic death toll of multiple migrant workers in preparation for the tournament over the last decade.
Reports across the world have found that as many as 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since being awarded the World Cup in 2010, despite Qatari executives vehemently denying as such, with a statement reading: “The incident is being investigated by the Qatari authorities. If the investigation concludes that safety protocols were not followed, the company will be subject to legal action and severe financial penalties.
"Compensation is paid through the workers’ support and insurance fund when a worker has been injured or passed away due to a work-related incident, or when an employer is unable to pay salaries. Over 350 million US dollars have been paid out through the fund this year.
However, Ella Knight, Amnesty International's migrant labour rights researcher, called Al-Khater out for the inaccuracies of this statement. "Unfortunately, Mr Al-Khater is mistaken when he says that every fatality is investigated. This is simply not true," Knight said.
"We and others have been calling on the Qatari authorities to conduct such investigations on workers' deaths for years to no avail. Instead, they continue to simply write off vast numbers of deaths as being due to 'natural causes' despite the clear health risks associated with working in extreme temperatures.
"It goes without saying that the Government should be investigating this most recent tragic case, as well as the deaths of all others. Every single family who has lost a loved one as a result of their working conditions in Qatar deserves answers and remedy for their loss."
