US judge greenlights Filipino workers’ lawsuit over Qatar World Cup labor abuses

Construction workers in Doha, Qatar | Photo by Adam Jones/Wikipedia

LOS ANGELES – A US federal court in Colorado has ruled that a lawsuit filed by dozens of Filipino workers against two US-based engineering firms involved in the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadium projects in Qatar can move forward.

The workers are suing Texas-based Jacobs Engineering and Colorado-based CH2M under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), alleging that they were subjected to forced labor and inhumane conditions while working on stadium construction sites.

Magistrate Judge Cyrus Chung issued the decision on June 26, 2025, marking a significant development in global efforts to address human trafficking and labor abuses linked to Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure.

Migrant construction workers in Doha, Qatar | Photo by Alex Sergeev/Wikipedia Commons

The case, FC v. Jacobs Solutions Inc., accuses the companies of overseeing projects where workers endured cramped housing, excessive hours, forced labor and passport confiscation – conditions tied to Qatar’s controversial kafala sponsorship system.

Judge Chung’s ruling clarifies the extraterritorial reach of US anti-trafficking laws, specifically 18 US Code §§ 1595 and 1596, which grant federal courts jurisdiction over trafficking offenses committed abroad. This legal framework is what allows the Filipino workers’ lawsuit – based on alleged abuse in Qatar – to be heard in a US court, because the companies they are suing are based in the United States.

While claims against Qatari employers were dismissed due to jurisdictional limitations, the lawsuit will proceed against the US-based firms.

In the complaint filed in Denver federal court, 38 Filipino workers, identified only by their initials, claim they were forced to live in overcrowded, unsanitary accommodations and coerced into working up to 72 hours without adequate food or rest. The confiscation of their passports, they argue, made it nearly impossible to leave their employer or return to the Philippines.

The workers are seeking compensation for unpaid wages, unspecified damages for alleged trafficking, and punitive damages for what they describe as egregious labor exploitation.

According to a 2023 Reuters report by Daniel Wiessner, the lawsuit is part of the growing international scrutiny of Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, which intensified during the construction boom leading up to the World Cup.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the country’s kafala system which ties workers to a single employer and restricts their ability to leave or change jobs, giving the employer immense power over migrant workers.

Although Qatar introduced sweeping labor reforms in 2020 – including the establishment of a minimum wage for foreign workers – critics argue that abuses remain widespread. The reforms set a minimum wage of QAR 1,000 (approximately $274 per month), eliminated the requirement for workers to obtain employer permission (commonly known as No Objection Certificates) to change jobs or leave the country, and introduced both the Wage Protection System and the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.

Despite these measures, reports of persistent abuses continue. These include wage theft and payment delays, contract violations, restrictions on changing employers, and limitations on workers’ freedom of movement – particularly as leaving an employer without permission is still considered a criminal offense.

Additionally, many workers face high recruitment fees and deceptive hiring practices. Critics also note that major obstacles remain for workers seeking to file complaints or obtain compensation

Legal experts believe the ruling could have broad implications for corporate liability. Ben Golin of the University of Nevada School of Law’s Jurist News noted that the case may set a precedent for holding US corporations accountable for human trafficking and labor violations abroad.

According to Golin, the lawsuit could be worth millions of dollars in damages and may significantly affect how US companies operate internationally, particularly in regions with a history of labor exploitation.

While the plaintiffs are from the Philippines, the project’s workforce also included migrants from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries.

A report by Engineering News-Record (ENR.com) stated that CH2M Hill Cos., a Jacobs subsidiary, managed the multibillion-dollar project, which included seven new stadiums, upgrades to an existing structure, and other related infrastructure work. Jacobs acquired CH2M in 2017, while construction was ongoing.

Although the plaintiffs were not directly employed by Jacobs or CH2M, their attorneys argue that, as program managers, the two companies were “responsible for ensuring that proper labor standards and practices were followed by contractors and subcontractors in the venture.”

The ENR.com report adds that the complaint claims: “In this role, CH2M and Jacobs had significant access to the stadiums, influence over and oversight of the work done at the stadiums, managerial authority, auditing rights and control over other companies that worked together to construct and deliver the stadiums for the World Cup Construction Venture.”

In a statement, Jacobs reiterated its commitment to ethical labor practices: “Jacobs is committed to the human rights and dignity of those within our operations and where we do business,” the company said, adding that it “prioritizes health, safety and wellbeing, partnering with clients and suppliers to develop innovative approaches that improve the lives of workers and other stakeholders.”

The case unfolds amid ongoing global criticism of Qatar’s labor practices and may serve as a bellwether for corporate legal accountability in labor and trafficking cases worldwide.

Legal observers and human rights advocates are watching closely, hopeful the lawsuit could establish a new standard for multinational responsibility in international labor ventures.