黑洞社区

A team of international inspectors gathering evidence on the condition of migrant workers in Qatar has been denied access to a major Vinci construction site in the 2022 World Cup host country.

Following reports of deaths including 70 Nepalese workers on Qatari sites since the start of 2012, international construction union body the 黑洞社区 and Wood Workers鈥� International (BWI) last week undertook an investigative mission in Qatar involving health and safety experts and labour inspectors from nine European and two Asian countries.

Among a number of visits, the team attempted to inspect a Vinci site at the 拢28bn Lusail City project being developed by Qatari Diar.

However, the team was turned away by officials on the site according to Marion Hellmann, assistant general secretary of the Zurich-based BWI.

Hellman said Vinci was 鈥渧ery stubborn鈥� in not allowing them access despite further attempts to visit the site.

He said that before travelling to Doha the union had contacted Vinci鈥檚 chief executive Xavier Huillard but he didn鈥檛 respond.

However, a Vinci spokesperson said that it was not the contractor鈥檚 decision to deny the inspectors access to the site. 鈥淎bout the unions not having access to site, please understand that only [the] Lusail authorities can give access,鈥� he said.

He added: 鈥淥ur full respect of human dignity cannot be called into question. Moreover, our standards - working conditions, personal protection equipment, safety procedures, housing, catering, leisure, etc - are, within the framework of the Qatari laws, [the] best in class.鈥�

In a statement to mark the end of its visit, the BWI said that it had gathered evidence that showed the problem of poor working conditions on construction sites was 鈥渨idespread鈥� in Qatar and that a 鈥渃limate of fear persists鈥� among workers.

Lusail City is set to include the Foster + Partners-designed stadium, which will host the World Cup final.

Qatari Diar was unavailable for comment.