人权分子:俄罗斯和卡塔尔需保护世界杯工人权益

AS IT IS 2015-07-21 Activists¹: Abuse of Workers in FIFA World Cup Cities 人权分子:俄罗斯和卡塔尔需保护世界杯工人权益

Russia and Qatar are busy preparing for the next two FIFA World Cups. Activists say the two countries have human rights issues they need to correct. They give examples of employers abusing work crews at World Cup sites. Some of the workers are reported to be setting up buildings or other structures for the games. The activists also note a lack of labor² protections in both Russia and Qatar. In some cases, they say, the lack of protections has led to death.

In May, the British Broadcasting Corporation documented the jailing of its crew in Qatar. The crew members were arrested after they attempted to film the living conditions of poor migrant workers in Doha, the capital. The workers were helping³ to prepare the city for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The crew’s cameras were taken and never returned.

The Guardian⁴ newspaper reported on Nepalese migrants who worked on a project tied to the World Cup stadium. It said that the migrants died at a rate of one every two days in 2014. Qatar’s Labor Ministry⁵ disputes the report.

The group Human Rights Watch says many employers try to threaten or frighten migrant workers. It says some businesses take the workers’ passports so they cannot leave the country.

Jane Buchanan works for Human Rights Watch.

“They are extremely vulnerable, both because of the government’s disregard for basic labor protections and the conduct of employers who act with impunity⁶ in that kind of environment.”

Jeff Thinnes is a specialist on business ethics⁷. He says many of the migrant workers are from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He says they often are treated as slave laborers⁸. He believes young people around the world will one day protest the workers’ treatment and pressure companies to force Russia and Qatar to make changes. 

“I think once the millennials get a hold of this, once you see more traffic on social media, it’s going to force the other stakeholders -- including the corporate⁹ sponsors who put their names and their reputations into play when they sponsor activities like those managed by FIFA -- you know, to ask themselves ‘Is this what we should be doing? Is this the best way for us to invest?’”

Jane Buchanan says that Qatar and Russia should protect workers. But she says FIFA also has a responsibility to make sure the laborers are not suffering. And she says the organization must also work to keep from repeating earlier mistakes.

“What we saw with the Sochi Winter Olympics was ramped¹⁰ on exploitation of migrant workers building the infrastructure¹¹ and venues¹³, (and) real disregard on the part of the Russian government until the very last minute to inspect and hold employers accountable for those abuses. So I think that sends a pretty strong signal that those kinds of practices are basically tolerated.”

Russian lawmakers have proposed using prisoners to help develop areas for the 2018 World Cup. Ms. Buchanan says that could place the prisoners at extreme risk of being forced to work as slaves. She says the Russian government has already weakened labor protections for workers at the World Cup site.

Words in This Story

site – n. the place or area where something is, was, or will be

stadium – n. a sports center

vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed

disregard – n. the act of ignoring something or treating something as unimportant

basic – adj. the most important parts of something

impunity – n. freedom from punishment, harm or loss

stakeholder – n. a person or business that has invested money, time or reputation in something

sponsor – n. a person or organization that pays the cost of an activity or event in return for the right to advertise during the activity or event

reputation – n. public image; the common opinion that people have about someone or something

exploit – v. to use in a way that helps you unfairly

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures that are needed for a country, area or operation to operate properly

venue¹² – n. the place where an event takes place

accountable – adj. required to explain actions or decisions to someone

basically – adv. used to show that a statement is expressing the most important reason for something

tolerate – v. to allow (something that is bad or unpleasant) to exist

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

7 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

8 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

10 ramped   

土堤斜坡( ramp的过去式和过去分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯

参考例句：

• With the arrival of George Lucas, the pace has ramped up. 随着乔治·卢卡斯的到来，速度大大加快。
• They also sold corporate bonds as the global financial crisis ramped up. 在全球金融危机加剧之际，他们还抛售了公司债券。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

12 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

13 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网