Middle East and North Africa: End Curbs on Women’s Mobility
Male Guardianship Rules Hamper Travel, Other Movement
![Women hold signs in Arabic during a protest](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media_2023/07/202307mena_wrd_palestine_guardianship_protest.jpg?h=c254337f&itok=Qm6smNSo)
Qatar has introduced significant labor reforms allowing migrant workers to change jobs without employer permission and setting a higher and non-discriminatory minimum wage. However, the reforms have proven to be woefully inadequate in protecting workers’ rights and are poorly enforced. Migrant workers continue to face wage abuses and exorbitant recruitment fees. Migrant worker deaths are rarely investigated, and families of deceased migrant workers often do not receive compensation from employers. Despite the global scrutiny brought by the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the call for FIFA and Qatari authorities to remedy serious abuses against migrant workers, the tournament ended without compensation, including to families of deceased migrant workers who made the tournament possible. Some male guardianship policies and discriminatory laws against women continue. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals continue to face discrimination.
Male Guardianship Rules Hamper Travel, Other Movement
Exorbitant Illegal Charges for People Hired to Build World Cup Infrastructure
Existing Compensation Mechanisms Critical Starting Point to Fix Longstanding Wrongs
Public Commitments to Worker Protections and Compensation Needed
Use International Migrants Day to End Mistreatment of Essential Workers
A Year Later, Lack of Action Still Haunts Abused Workers
Male Guardianship Rules Hamper Travel, Other Movement
FIFA/Qatari Authorities Paid No Compensation, Silent on Wage Theft
Existing Protections Woefully Inadequate in Warming Climate
Agreement Without Improvement Could Harm Workers
Football Federation’s Meeting Should Compensate Abused, Deceased Migrant Workers