The action follows a complaint filed in 2019 by Sherpa, a human rights organization based in Paris, and NGOs working against modern slavery. All 11 employees of Vinci’s subsidiary, Qatari Dire Vinci Construction (QDVC), have lodged a complaint with the NGO. The French company has a 49 percent stake in Qatari Dire Vinci Construction.
They accuse Vinci of forced labor and enslavement of workers. Vinci’s lawyer, Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi, said he would soon appeal the complaint.
Meanwhile, Sandra Cosart, head of Sherpa France, said they were satisfied the investigation had begun. The passports of Vinci’s migrant workers, who work 66 to 77 hours a week at World Cup sites in Qatar, have been confiscated. They were accommodated in cramped rooms without adequate sanitary facilities. They are not paid for the work they do. Sherpa also says that if she complains, she is threatened with dismissal.
The case was closed in 2018 by the prosecutor who did not take further action on the complaint filed by the NGOs. However, Sherpa and the former workers of the company filed a fresh complaint. This led to the initiation of a judicial inquiry.
However, Vinci says none of the projects given to its Qatar unit have anything to do with the World Cup. Vinci said no agreement has been signed with the World Cup organizing committee to build a stadium or hotel in Qatar. However, the construction group has worked on some essential infrastructure during the World Cup. It also includes the Lusail light-rail transport system, connecting the Doha Metro to the airport.
Vinci said it is committed to improving the living and working conditions of all workers on construction sites around the world. The group added that since its inception in 2007, QDVC has prioritized human rights and worker health and safety.
Since FIFA sanctioned the tournament in Qatar in 2010, the country has taken some steps to reform labor practices. Sherpa also called on the country to increase compensation for migrant workers who have faced injury, death and wage issues while working on World Cup-related projects.
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