Not "worked" on construction sites in Qatar - specifically, but I have seen with my own eyes seriously deficient practices, and I have worked in related engineering/process sectors across 6 middle east countries. Many 3rd world expats (Nepalise, bangladeshi's etc...) are effectively indentured slaves enduring on-site life-threatening working conditions, as reported by the guardian; and substantiated by statistics. If this is not bad enough they then have to experience horrifying welfare conditions off site; hot-bedding poor sanitation etc... There is little doubt in my mind that even if the reports have not been 100% factual with regard to the specific instances cited, they do at least convey an accurate general picture of affairs out here. Im grateful to the guardian for raising this and for other media then picking up the baton....

Walker Disagree that an international body's chat forum should not think about world issues. Fully agree there's plenty of room for improvement as even recognised by Teresa May. See http://www.conservativeh...ern-day-slave-trade.html and she referenced this in her speech to the Tory Conference (the day before yesterday I think) which speech covered in the Guardian. The Qatari Government seems to accept that things need to be done and have announced more resources to be allocated to inspections etc.

Dear All The article at SHPOnline has David Cameron commending the British Olympic construction site as one of the safest and how we can use this as an example to the world. (Paraphrased) At the bottom of the SHP Online article was the section listing the top 5 most viewed articles: the most read article is the one entitled 'Prime minister vows to “kill off the health and safety culture for good”'. Is this a contradiction or a paradox? Today Mr Cameron said he wants Great Britain to be the land of opportunity, while, apparently, missing the opportunity to promote the health and safety success of those involved with the Olympics to the authorities in Qatar. Nigel

I am in Qatar and work for a very large Construction company, I have been here 3 years now, and it is a circus, it is just as bad or even worse than the article, I have really never come across so many incompetent people in my life, its all about the money, and production, they don't care about the labour workers at all. We don't have proper welfare facilities and workers bring food to site in plastic bags and eat on the floor of the site, and its not clean on site too, they don't bother about housekeeping practices so the workers will eat and sleep on the construction site wherever they can, and they are treated like slaves sometimes physically handled too. I wish I could show you some pics it will shock allot of people. Some companies do a good job in implementing HSE standards but the majority don't even bother, a lot of workers die here and it is kept under raps. you wont easily read about it in the media as they have a tight grip on it. Generally the oil and gas sector is good but the construction companies in Doha city is really BAD!! Also it depends on what nationality the management is, western guys usually fair better, but the middle eastern management is [expletive deleted] poor. I also have to say that here is some well established international construction companies that do a very good job in safety and there sites are well managed. Worst place I've ever worked, money is good but that's about it, looking to get out very soon.