AECOM, Exploitation and Qatar

[aside]What’s the point in trying to convince everyone Civil Engineers are the heart of society when it’s the Football Players who are taking responsibility for defending the rights of the builders of our structures?[/aside]

Only three weeks ago I wrote an article about the ethics of engineering, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of Buro Happold and Populous towards the human rights abuses surrounding the execution of the Sochi Olympic stadium. Whilst the design of Sochi is probably over, and the damage arguably done, it’s a different story entirely for AECOM and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Stadium in Qatar.

In a report released yesterday Amnesty International describe the construction industry in Qatar as one where “migrant workers are being ruthlessly exploited, deprived of their pay and left struggling to survive.” Knowing the responsibilities of an engineer towards the execution of the design it’s hard to argue a case for professionalism if the stadium is set to be built in a country where construction workers are “the animals”.

This story is nothing new- concerns were raised in September about the state and safety of the workforce and as far as I can see AECOM have said nothing; and frankly I shouldn’t have to look. What’s the point in trying to convince everyone Civil Engineers are the heart of society when it’s the Football Players who are taking responsibility for defending the rights of the builders of our structures?

So here’s an open invitation to AECOM; please show us that engineers are more relevant to the safe and non-exploitative execution of their designs than Bobby Barnes.

[keypoint]To be replaced if AECOM respond…[/keypoint]

Here’s hoping.