The Qatari government has failed to address “shortcomings in the legal and regulatory framework” relating to labour conditions in the country as it embarks on many large-scale projects ahead of hosting the 2022 Football World Cup.

This is according to the 2013 World Report from charity and pressure group Human Rights Watch (HRW), which notes that the country has the highest ratio of non-citizens to citizens in the world, with Qataris making up 12% of the population.

HRW also claims that “laws intended to protect workers are rarely enforced”, that “passport confiscation is customary” and migrant workers have no right to unionize or strike, with the kafala (sponsorship) system tying migrant to their employer, without whose permission they cannot switch jobs.

Speaking to Recruiter last year for our Global Spotlight on Qatar (Recruiter, June 2012), David Leyshon, managing director of recruiter CBSbutler, described the country as perhaps not a place to do business “for someone who has a heavy social conscience”.

According to the bid submitted by Qatar to international football governing body FIFA, a budget of US$3bn (£1.9bn) was available for the construction of nine new stadiums and renovation of three others, with other significant transport, infrastructure and hospitality projects expected.