The CIOB has urged Carillion engage with the underlying issues on labour abuse in Qatar revealed on Monday night’s Newsnight programme, rather than making a knee-jerk response.
The programme interviewed two labourers working on phase 1B of the Msheireb Downtown Doha scheme, who were employed by labour supply companies working for Carillion subcontractors.
Following the programme Carillion announced that it was “deeply concerned and surprised” over the allegations and would be conducting an immediate investigation.
But in a statement, the CIOB advises that “sacking the labour subcontractor is not the solution” as this “typical response” can result in the “plight of the workers going from bad to a humanitarian disaster”.
The CIOB, which highlighted the issues surrounding the exploitation of migrant labour in Qatar at its Members Forum in June, also urged Carillion to consult with the Qatar Foundation and Amnesty International if allegations made in Newsnight’s exposé on worker conditions are substantiated.
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The BBC spoke to Professor Ray Jureidini, an adviser to the Qatar Foundation, who argued that international contractors in Qatar need to ask more questions about the conditions under which sub-contracted labourers are brought to the country in the first place, and their terms of employment.
In response to the CIOB statement a Carillion spokesperson told CM: “We are committed to engaging with appropriate international, government, non-government and independent organisations and contributing our knowledge and expertise for the common purpose of maintaining good working conditions and high safety standards – both ours and those of the wider industry.”
CIOB statement in full
“The CIOB is pleased that Carillion are conducting an urgent investigation into the allegations made in the Newsnight programme.
“If Carillion find that the allegations are substantiated then we hope that the response is appropriate to dealing with the issues the workers face. The typical response in such cases has usually resulted in the plight of the workers going from bad to a humanitarian disaster where the workers are left in a limbo with no work, nowhere to live and no means of getting home and at risk to even more unscrupulous operators.
“Sacking the labour subcontractor is not the solution, making a real difference to the plight of the workers is. We would recommend that Carillion consult with the Qatar Foundation, a major client of the construction industry, who have developed and are enforcing a very strong set of standards for their work. As well as Amnesty International who held a workers welfare workshop at the CIOB Members’ Forum in Qatar last June.”
