Amnesty International reveal Kenyan security guards subjected to forced labour in Qatar

Human Rights group, Amnesty International has accused Qatar of mistreating security guards mostly from Kenya, and other African countries.

Amnesty, in a report titled "They Think That We’re Machines", revealed that immigrant workers regularly worked 12 hours a day with a majority being denied their day off.

Qatari law and regulations restrict working hours to a maximum of 60 hours per week, including overtime, and is clear that everyone is entitled to one full day of paid rest each week.

"Regular working hours shall not exceed 8 hours daily, 48 hours weekly, for workers of legal age. This excludes the month of Ramadan, when regular working hours shall not exceed six hours daily, 36 hours weekly," reads Section 35 of Qatar's Labour Act.

One of the Kenyans interviewed by the non-governmental organization revealed he was forced to leave his home at 6:30 a.m. and would only return back from work at 8:00 p.m. for several months continuously.

Security stand in a street of new labour city in Doha, on May 3, 2015. (Photo by MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP via Getty Images) Pulse Live Kenya

Kenyan workers in Qatar decry no lunch breaks

The Kenyan, who chose to stay anonymous, further revealed that taking a rest day without permission could result in wage deductions, amounting to forced labour.

Another security guard - identified as Lawrence - explained how he and other Kenyans had to pay exorbitant recruitment fees, hoping they would be reimbursed, only to find out that the pay was extremely different from what they had been promised.

“They say at the job you have a lunch break of one hour, but we don’t have one and they don’t pay you. They say Friday is an off day, but it is an off that you don’t have…You cannot complain – if you do you are terminated and deported,” explained Lawrence.

Since 2017, the government has introduced measures to protect migrant labourers from working in excessive heat, limit their working hours and improve conditions in workers' camps.

A security staff member watches the stands during the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 group A football match between Bahrain and Iraq at the Al-Thumama Stadium in the capital city of Doha on December 3, 2021. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images) Pulse Live Kenya

However, Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice revealed the reforms were not being effectively implemented.

"Many of the security guards we spoke to knew their employers were breaking the law but felt powerless to challenge them. Physically and emotionally exhausted, workers kept reporting for duty under threat of financial penalties – or worse, contract termination or deportation,” said Cockburn.

Some guards reported being heavily financially penalised for ‘misdemeanours’ such as not wearing their uniform properly, or for leaving their post to use the toilet without someone to cover for them.

In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, Qatar’s Ministry of Labour acknowledged that “individual cases of wrongdoing need to be dealt with immediately”. It went on to confirm its commitment to address and rectify the issues.