Qatar Contingency and the Olympic Committee - Business Plan Example

Qatar Contigency Plan Name Class Unit Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 2 The problem 4 The associated risks 5 Qatar labour laws 6 Committee addressing the migrant workers issue 7 Plans to mitigate migrant workers abuse 8 Ensuring the labour practices adhere to the ILO Conventions 8 Punishing employers who violates the laws 8 Using world cup to empower migrant workers 9 Beyond world cup 2022 11 Maintaining soft power beyond 2022 event 12 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction In 2010, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) gave Qatar the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar is the first country in the whole of the Middle East to host world cup. Qatar has been very active in leveraging the event for economic development and also market itself as tourist hub and a business centre. Hosting the world cup presents Qatar with numerous opportunities but there are also challenges (Scharfenort, 2012). The country has to engage strategic management in order to succeed. This involves set of management decisions that will determine the long term performance (Thompson & Martin, 2010). Hosting the world cup will give Qatar the soft power. To attain the soft power strategy, the country relies on three themes. The themes are; health and wellbeing, peace and security and progress and modernisation. Sports are an important cultural form for creating soft power. The country estimates to spend over US$100 billion on the world cup infrastructure ahead of 2022. After winning the bid, Qatar was required to build nine more state of art stadiums with cooling technology due to the souring summer temperatures. This is among other infrastructures which includes new airport, roads worth $20 billion, high speed rail and new hotel rooms. To be able to meet these ambitions, Qatar has to rely on migrant workers. The country migrant workers accounts for 94% of the labour force. The main challenge organising committee faces in Qatar is violation of migrant workers rights. The recruitment for the migrant workers has been exploitive (Brannagan & Giulianotti, 2014). The main challenge is whether Qatar will succeed in hosting the world cup without trampling on the workers’ rights. This will involve the country ensuring that they come up with ways of encountering external threats and through evaluating the weakness and strengths (Johnson, Scholes & Whittington, 2008). This contingency plan shows measures taken to address the risks from this factor and sustainability beyond 2022 world cup event for Qatar to have a lasting legacy. As Qatar pursues the vision of hosting the world cup in 2022, they have faced a challenge of adhering to International Labour Organisation (ILO). This is by ensuring that they have abolished forced labour in the country. The organising committee for the event are supposed to address this factor to mitigate the risks that are associated with it (Devi, 2014). The problem Migrant workers in Qatar who are working on the world cup infrastructure have been exploited and denied basic rights. Qatar has limited labour laws which have been circumvented and poor government oversight capitalised on. There have been a lot of complaints from workers as they engage in the world cup infrastructure. Migrant workers in Qatar are housed in industrial area which is located in the outskirts of Doha. Industrial area houses more than 200,000 male workers and is hidden from the foreign visitors. The housing lacks some of the necessities such as water and electricity. In some cases, there is no air conditioning despite the country temperatures which is at 50 degrees during summer. There are other workers camps in the country where more than 1.2 migrant workers live (Devi, 2014). The country allows use of recruitment agencies to look for workers overseas. The agencies look for workers and provide them with work visas. The sponsorship contract is written in Arabic making it hard for workers to understand. The desperation of the migrant workers is used by the agencies to exploit them. Migrant workers are supposed to give visas to employers to make sure they don’t leave the state without having permission. Some of the migrant workers are not paid on time while others work in dangerous conditions. There have been claims that some of the migrant workers have died each year without documentation. The migrant workers do not enjoy the same benefits as their Qatari counterparts. They do not have trade unions and hence cannot strike and engage in collective bargaining. These are among many problems that migrant workers in Qatar faces as they engage in constructing the required infrastructure for the 2022 world cup event (Devi, 2014). The associated risks As Qatar works to extend its soft power through sports, it faces reputational risk. As a nation seeks to extend soft power, the risk of soft disempowerment is always there. This is due to the fact that the country may disturb or even alienate other countries making it less attractive or lose its influence. The committee has been under pressure from the international community over the human rights abuse. The committee organising the event in Qatar has a major task ahead to make sure they address these complaints to avoid soft disempowerment (Brannagan & Giulianotti, 2014). Sport based soft power strategy has a lot of reputational risks due to fact that the country has to be exposed scrutiny internationally. This is especially criticism from the liberal media and the civil rights groups. The Qatar Olympic committee has been working hard to tackle the reputational risk that has been arising as they prepare for the Olympic. In 2007, Qatar ratified the Abolition convention to stop forced labour. Under the convention, each of the states had to ensure that they eliminate any incidence of forced labour in their boarders. The idea of mobilising and using labour as a tool for economic development had been condemned by the convention. The country has also ratified the labour inspection convention. This is aimed at ensuring that the country has adequate labour inspectors based on number and the nature of the workplaces. Qatar was initially accused of forced labour on January 2013. This was based on the abuse of the migrant workers. The country was also accused of hiding the victims of forced labour from the public view. Qatar has already ratified the ILO’s convention on Rights to Organise Collective Bargaining. This entitles workers to from unions and ensures they are protected from any discrimination that does not allow formation of unions (Devi, 2014). Qatar labour laws To cater for Qatar reputation, the Olympics committee have been more concerned on the labour laws. This is through ensuring that the country is able to follow the labour laws which protect the migrant workers. Qatar labour laws have undergone a huge transformation over the years based on the transformation which attracted millions of migrant workers. The country has been dependent on the migrant workers to build its future. There are two main laws which the committee have been utilising to ensure migrant workers’ rights are protected. The labour law passed in 2004 have been one of the most reaching. The law have been aimed at extending fundamental rights to the migrant workers. The law is very comprehensive and have the capability to regulate the workers from the time they sign the contract until they leave the country through exit visas. The law ensures that the workers are able to meet conditions required for them to gain work permits and ensure that they have a good working and living conditions. The law also caters for the workers’ health and safety. Through this law, the Olympic committee has been able to work in ensuring that they address the migrant workers plight within the law. Through the use of the labour law, migrant workers in the country are issued with work permits through the labour department. The law gives the conditions under which the worker may resign living and working conditions. The employer is mandated to ensure that they provide the workers with water, sanitation and other good living conditions. The main issue with the law is the fact that it prohibits migrant workers the right to form unions. The law have also been against collective bargaining. The work inspectors are also empowered to inspect workplaces without any prior warning (Devi, 2014). The second law which the committee relies on is sponsorship law. The law is based on kafala system. Businesses in Qatar are expected to sponsor migrant workers who want to work and live in the country. Migrant workers under the law are allowed to work in Qatar as long as their sponsor employs them. The sponsor is expected to notify the ministry of interior if the worker leaves the job without consent. If a worker leaves the job without consent, people are barred from helping them and the worker is deported if caught (Auwal, 2010). Committee addressing the migrant workers issue The committee has been very active in ensuring that they address the plight of the migrant workers. This is after the criticism from international community, human rights watch and liberal media. The committee has been undertaking their responsibility of ensuring that there is coordination and oversight while undertaking the construction of the world cup infrastructures. Under the decree No 27, the committee is expected to ensure that there is an enabling environment to carry out the world cup. This is through legal, social, economic and regulatory aspects. The committee has made it public that they will use the world cup event to ensure that Qatar reforms its labour practices (Brannagan & Giulianotti, 2014). The committee has been working to ensure that world cup is a success story and eliminate the on-going controversy on migrant workers’ abuse. Plans to mitigate migrant workers abuse Ensuring the labour practices adhere to the ILO Conventions The committee is expected to adhere to the commitments set by Forced Labour and Abolition conventions. Qatar has been accused of violating the labour conventions over the years especially during the construction of the Olympic infrastructure. The employers in the Olympic construction industry have been violating the migrant workers’ rights. The private companies have taken advantage of the situation to exploit workers. The act of mobilising and using the labour for economic development is another way in which Qatar has been violating the conventions. The insufficient workers inspectors are another loophole that has made it possible to violate workers’ rights. The committee have been very active in ensuring that the employees in the Olympic infrastructure industry respect the workers’ rights. The committee have been upholding the country international commitment in the workplaces. This has ensured that the migrant workers who constitute the largest population enjoy the basic rights to live and work. The committee have been working to achieve this through enforcing the existing regulations and ensuring that the raised complaints by the migrant workers are addressed (Auwal, 2010). Punishing employers who violates the laws Qatar labour structure lacks proper regulatory and enforcement agencies. There are inadequate and lack of sufficient trained inspectors. The committee has been working to ensure that this weakness does not hamper their efforts to deliver a successful world cup in 2022. The poor infrastructure has been a major hindrance for the committee. The committee will have to advocate for an increase labour inspectors. This is due to the increasing number of migrant workers and deteriorating working conditions. There is a need for training for more inspectors who are expected to conduct random and scheduled visits to the labour camps (Fourie & Santana-Gallego, 2011). The communication gap is another issue that has to be addressed. The inspectors should be fluent in at least one language of the migrant workers. This will allow them to have first-hand information when communicating with the workers. The inspectors should be able to speak in at least one of the migrant language to gain the insight of the issues they are facing. The committee is supposed to advocate for these changes that will allow Qatar to be closer to the ILO conventions. Using world cup to empower migrant workers The world cup is a platform that can be used to empower the migrant workers. At the moment, migrant workers have different rights from the Qatari citizens. Migrant workers cannot form trade unions, which deny them associated benefits such as collective bargaining. This is a major change that the committee should push for on Qatar government. Allowing the migrant workers to legally form unions will give them an opportunity to contribute to the country’s economy and future. The inequality that exists between the migrant and Qatari nationals is a major issue. While the Qatari workers are the highest paid worldwide, migrant workers in the country are the lowest paid. The committee is supposed to work in ensuring that the government passes a law that will address the existing inequalities. The discrepancies between the Qatar and foreign workers may later lead to crime and unrest later. The committee has to lobby for a change in the sponsorship law in the country. This is due to the fact that the law undermines the migrant workers which have become some form of slavery (Scharfenort, 2012). This is due to fact that migrant workers cannot leave emirates without an exit visa from the employer. The abused migrant workers cannot leave Qatar making them face exploitation without ability to change job or leave the country. When workers leave a job without an exit visa, they are forced to stay in the country illegally. The committee on world cup will have to lobby for workers to change employers at will. This is a way in which the workers will be able to get out of abusive employers and ensure improvement in workers safety (Hiba Khodr, 2012). To integrate the migrant workers into the society, the world cup committee is expected to work with FIFA to ensure workers have access to housing and transport. This will also work in ensuring that workers are not segregated into their camps. To address the looming gender imbalance in Qatar, migrant workers should be allowed to bring immediate family members to Qatar (Auwal, 2010). The world cup committee is expected to increase access to information to all new workers. This should be carried out in their native languages. The communication should inform workers their rights, where to lodge a complaint among other issues that affect their working life in the country. The committee have to ensure that Qatar is able to unlock the world cup human potential benefit to all (Auwal, 2010). The country ministry of labour has been taking steps to address the issue of migrant workers. This is through provision of a booklet which have been translated to the native languages. There have also been seminars for the migrant workers to know their rights. The main area that has issues is the complaint mechanisms where services are provided in Arabic, which is a rare language to migrant workers. The Olympics committee has been working to ensure that workers are able to know their rights and are in safe working conditions. Despite this, there are radical changes required in the ministry of labour. The committee has to work with the ministry to make changes that will make it easier for the workers to make complaints and access their rights just like the Qatar residents (Hiba Khodr, 2012). Beyond world cup 2022 For Qatar, the country must understand that it does matter how they build world cup. The country must ensure that they cannot utilise forced labour from migrants in building world cup. Migrant workers are the major population in the country and are playing a major role in transforming the country into a global player. As the global population focuses on 2022 world cup, it will be hard for Qatar to conceal the abuses to the migrant workers. The world cup is a great opportunity for the country to reform the labour laws and ensure that migrant workers are able to access their rights. If Qatar engages in these changes now, they will be able to maintain a legacy after the world cup which is very vital. The world cup will be a transformative event for the country. The Olympic committee will ensure that the country has an active participation in sports even after the world cup. With the change in lifestyle, sedentary lifestyles have led to chronic diseases. Chronic diseases have been a major challenge for the country health sector. By overcoming the challenge of migrant workers in building the world cup, the country will have a good legacy in sports. If the sporting event gets a good legacy by upholding human rights, physical education will be upheld. The facilities being put up will enhance Qatar capacity to ensure access to recreational facilities (Hiba Khodr, 2012). Carrying out the event in a responsible manner will enable Qatar to build its pride. The population will be proud of the country achievement which can help them to adopt a healthy living style. The event is a new chapter for the country growth. This implies that the way in which it’s handled will influence its success in creating a progressive state. The coordinated approach that will ensure that there is responsibility in sports promotion will yield great success for Qatar (Fourie & Santana-Gallego, 2011). To foster sports development as contained in the Qatar vision 2030 will involve high commitment and responsibility. The emerging challenges must be addressed in a sustainable manner. Maintaining soft power beyond 2022 event The 2022 event will attract a lot of visitors and promote Qatar business. Despite this, the event will draw international media attention. There will be global attention into Qatar and the outcome will depend on the manner in which the event is handled. If the country does not address the risk factors such as migrant workers crisis, they risk losing the soft power. The three main strategies on Qatar soft power have to be maintained for it to last. The country international appeal will be based on its achievements on science and technology through safe and secure environment. The reputational risks will have to be appropriately addressed for the strategy to be effective (Agha, Fairley & Gibson, 2012). The current case against Qatar threatens the country future legacy after hosting the games. There has been no change in the kafala law which have been oppressing migrant workers. The country legislation is not yet in conformation to international standards. The main areas that the country and the Olympics committee have to put more efforts on are; ending the kafala law, allowing workers freedom of association, put in place sound grievance system and ensure there is responsible recruitment agencies (Agha, Fairley & Gibson, 2012). Qatar has to be more flexible in order to carry out the strategies that will help overcome the crisis. Flexibility allows the organisation to shift from one dominant strategy to another (Thompson & Martin, 2010). This will be able to allow the country to change the strategy of forced labour and be upholding ILO conventions. Conclusion The contingency plan has shown that addressing the migrant workers plight is the major factor that Qatar faces as they prepare for the 2022 world cup event. The migrant workers have faced difficult working conditions while being denied basic rights. With the surging need for more migrant workers to facilitate development of the world cup event infrastructure, Qatar has to address their plight. ILO has established that Qatar have violated various labour conventions and used forced labour in construction for world cup infrastructures. The Olympic committee have to work with the government in ensuring the risks that may arise from the factor are mitigated. The committee have to ensure that forced labour is not used in infrastructure for world cup. The reputation risk that the country can get from failure to address the issue may lead to loss of soft power. The Olympic committee has been working to address the issue in collaboration with the government. Failure to address the issue will have negative impacts on the country ability to enhance its soft power beyond the 2022 world cup event. References Agha, N., Fairley, S., & Gibson, H. 2012. Considering legacy as a multi-dimensional construct: The legacy of the Olympic Games. 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