The Qatari government will publish an official report on migrant worker abuses at constructions sites of World Cup 2022 infrastructure in the coming weeks, according to a report in The Guardian - Opens in new tab today.
Qatar has hired leading international law firm DLA Piper to carry out an independent investigation into claims that serious human rights abuses were taking place on construction sites as the country gears up to host the football tournament.
However, the appointment of DLA Piper has raised eyebrows in the international community, since the law firm also acts as a lobbyist for Al Jazeera, the Qatari-owned broadcaster, which has led to speculation about how impartial the law firm will be in carrying out the investigation, according to The Telegraph (UK - Opens in new tab) and Washington-based think tank Foundation for the Defense of Democracies - Opens in new tab.
Qatar has been under growing international pressure to address the issue of abuse of migrant worker deaths on construction sites since British newspaper The Guardian published an exposé on dangerous working conditions faced by thousands of migrant workers in the Gulf country.