The company appointed to run the Olympic Stadium "is facing a legal claim alleging it allows 'forced labour' on construction projects designed to prepare Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH.
French firm Vinci, which was last month awarded the contract to manage the London 2012 centerpiece, "was the subject of a complaint lodged with a prosecutor on Monday by campaign group Sherpa."
Vinci, which also operates the Stade de France, responded on Tuesday by "categorically denying the allegations." Sherpa said that its complaint, filed with the prosecutor’s office in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, "followed a months-long investigation into the conditions faced by migrant workers in Qatar."
It claimed to have interviewed employees of Qatari Diar Vinci Construction -- a joint venture company between Qatari Diar and Vinci Construction Grands Projets -- "who provided testimony alleging the kind of abuses reported on other building sites in the country" (TELEGRAPH, 3/24). The AP's John Leicester reported Vinci "is involved in numerous public works in Qatar, including a new Doha subway, an orbital highway and transport links that World Cup fans will likely use to travel to the stadium expected to hold the opening match and final in 2022." About 9,000 laborers "are employed on projects in which QDVC is involved." Of those, 2,000 "are directly employed by QDVC."
Sherpa lawyer Sandra Cossart said that laborers "log 66 hours of work per week, more than allowed by Qatari law, 'for really ridiculous payments.''' Cossart:
''It is modern slavery."
Vinci responded that QDVC employees "can access their passports when they want and that working hours are 'strictly observed.''' Vinci said that at the end of contract, 70% of QDVC workers "sign up for a further two years" (AP, 3/24).
