A large French group pinned by justice for its actions in Qatar. Vinci announced, this Monday, in a press release, the summons by French justice, Wednesday, of its subsidiary Vinci Constructions Grands Projets “with a view to a possible indictment” within the framework of an investigation on construction sites, in two weeks from the opening of the World Cup in Qatar.
The French company says it refute the accusations, in particular of “forced labor” and “trafficking in human beings” on construction sites in Qatar. The investigation was opened in November 2019, after complaints from associations and seven former Indian and Nepalese employees.
Subsidiary accused of exploiting workers, plaintiffs say
The plaintiffs accuse Vinci, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, its Qatari subsidiary Diar Vinci Construction and their representatives, of reduction in servitude, trafficking in human beings, work incompatible with human dignity, deliberate endangerment, involuntary injuries and concealment.
According to an NGO, immigrant employees of Vinci work between 66 and 77 hours a week, and their passports are confiscated. They would be crammed into cramped rooms with insufficient sanitary facilities, receiving remuneration unrelated to the work provided. They are threatened with dismissal or dismissal in their country in the event of claims.
“None of the awarded projects is related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” Vinci said.