Following FIFA’s decision to let Qatar host the 2022 World Cup, the spotlight has come on to the country and in particular on its dictatorial rule.

Qatar is becoming more and more renowned for its flagrant disregard for workers’ rights and human rights. Migrant workers in Qatar have to deal with things such as delay in the payment of wages, harsh and dangerous working conditions, poor living conditions and there are even more shocking details of forced labour and physical and sexual violence against domestic workers. This in addition with the Kafala system (referred to by the TUC as “modern-day slavery”) makes life for workers in Qatar unbearable.

As UCL has a campus in Qatar, we believe that without calling out the Qatari government for its actions UCL would only be providing a veneer of respectability

UCL Union, in association with UCL Defend Education and UCLU Amnesty International Society demand the following things from UCL with regards to its campus in Qatar

1.       We demand that all students on the campus have full rights to join a student union

 2.       We demand that all workers working at or for UCL Qatar (whether directly employed by UCL or via an outsourcing firm) be guaranteed the same working rights as those employed by UCL’s UK campus. This should include the right to join an independent trade union.

 3.       We demand that UCL condemns and speaks out against the appalling working conditions and lack of workers’ rights of the mainly immigrant workers who are based on the Education City. This will include demanding the repeal of the safeguarding law that allows this form of effective modern day slavery to exist.

 4.       UCL must also safeguard those LGBT+ and women workers on its campus from state victimisation and criminalisation from the Qatari government.

 5.       We demand that UCL condemns and speaks out against the governments restrictions on women’s rights and LGBT rights. This would include opposing the criminalisation of homosexuality in Qatar.

 6.       There must be open books on UCL's practices in Qatar including contractors’ workers conditions, and compensation for any worker found to have been mistreated.