to tell this story timeStarting at the construction site of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the reporting team of , Aryn Baker, Ed Kashi, and Tom Laffay will introduce viewers to the largely Nepali workforce that helped build the new infrastructure. They are investigating a large number of worker deaths and accidents over the past decade, many of which experts believe are heat-related. Following international criticism, the Qatari government last year implemented sweeping reforms to protect its workforce from the heat, but it was already too late for most migrant workers.
This story takes the reader to Nepal. There, several villages are now welcoming home workers suffering from chronic kidney disease. We will speak with the head of the kidney disease department at Kathmandu Central Hospital to discuss the implications for a country with only a handful of dialysis machines. Also, visit recruitment centers to learn how they inform clients (or not) about the risks of heat exposure.
Finally, turning to the United States, several states have already enacted worker protection laws to ensure outdoor workers have adequate rest, shade, and water to reduce their exposure. But getting these simple regulations in place at the national level has been an uphill battle.
Image Description: A view of the interior of the Lusail Stadium under construction, which will host the opening and final games of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Workers often work in extreme heat during the summer months. Image by Noushad Thekkayil/shutter stockQatar, 2020.