Almost 1000 Indian workers have died during Qatar FIFA World Cup preparations

Almost 1000 Indian migrant workers who have been working in Qatar for infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup have lost their lives, the Indian Embassy in Doha has confirmed.

Since 2010, the death tolls have been increasing in a shocking manner with 233 deaths in the first year, followed by 239 in 2011, 237 in 2012, 241 in 2013 and 24 last month. All of these total up to 974 deaths which makes us think: Is the World Cup worth it?

Humanitarians and politicians have apparently urged FIFA’s governing council to take some serious action as FIFA had been turning an blind eye towards the conditions of these workers.

“With specific regard to these new figures, we were aware that local media had previously reported some of these headline numbers, and we are clarifying them,” Qatar’s ministry of labour and social affairs was quoted in the report by the Guardian.

“Clearly any one death in Qatar or anywhere else is one death too many – for the workers, for their families, but also for Qataris who welcome guest workers to our country to perform valuable jobs. We are working to understand the causes of these deaths – as these statistics could include a range of circumstances including natural causes, and road safety incidents, as well as a smaller number of workplace incidents.”

A shocking graph depicting the number of Indian workers who lost their lives since 2010.

The condition of these Indian workers who make up to 22% of the whole pool of workers doesn’t seem to be improving even after the implementation of a new charter relating to the construction on the stadiums by the organising committee was passed which focused on expanded inspection programme.

Indians aren’t the only victims, as almost around 382 workers from Nepal had died in Qatar.

The International Trade Union Confederation has warned that up to 4,000 workers may die before the start of the tournament in 2022 if they don’t take actions against the kafala system which ties these workers to their employers who are responsible for their visa and legal status.