The Dark Side of Migration

Qatar’s population is growing at a truly staggering rate. Between August 2012 and August 2013 it grew by 10.5 per cent. This growth is driven primarily by the recruitment of low-paid migrant workers to support an infrastructure development program that, according to some estimates, will amount to more than US$220 billion over the coming decade. There are 1.38 million foreign nationals working in Qatar, 94 per cent of the total workforce. The majority are from South and Southeast Asia, and this number is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. The construction sector in the state is in full swing to overhaul Doha into a global hub. At the heart is the 2022 World Cup, Qatar's most high profile and ambitious project. The project has invited the spotlight of international media over reports of abuses to migrant workers. This report summarizes the study conducted on the condition of the migrant workers in Qatar for a period of five and half weeks.