Projects and business conduct
>When were VINCI’s first contracts signed in Qatar?
VINCI has been operating in Qatar for many years. Its subsidiary Terre Armée was involved in soil reinforcement work back in 1982. Then its subsidiary Entrepose delivered two liquified natural gas storage tanks in Ras Laffan. When more projects were sent its way, VINCI Construction Grands Projets decided to form a joint venture with the Qataris, QDVC.
In the early 2000s, Qatar had the ambition to modernize its infrastructure, notably with underground works projects to build a public transport network. As the country did not have such expertise, Qatar wanted to create a joint venture with VINCI to secure this know-how in underground works.
VINCI has been carrying out infrastructure projects in Qatar since 2007 through QDVC, whose shareholders are Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (51%) and VINCI Construction Grands Projets (49%). Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company is owned by the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar.
>Why did you create a subsidiary, QDVC (in which VINCI is a minority shareholder) to operate in Qatar?
It was the law in Qatar when QDVC was created that a foreign company could not own more than 49% of a subsidiary in the country.
>What are the achievements of QDVC in Qatar?
QDVC has contributed to the construction of more than 114 km of infrastructure projects in Qatar, including the Lusail Light Rail Transit System (33 km of lines and 37 stations, 10 of which are underground), the Doha Metro Red Line (16 kilometers, 32 kilometers of tunnels and 5 stations), the New Orbital Highway 2 (47 kilometers of highway), as well as the Sheraton Park and Lusail Car Parks landscaped park and underground parking lots.
By the time the stadiums went out to tender, QDVC was ramping up. With the Metro, Lusail LRT and New Orbital Highway projects, VINCI preferred to focus on delivering these extraordinary projects where the technical complexity is greater than a stadium.
>What projects will QDVC be working on next in Qatar?
QDVC has a few projects under review or in development, but Qatar is nearing the end of a cycle of major infrastructure projects now the metro and large sewage treatment structures are complete. There are a few projects to keep us going in Qatar, but the gaps between projects are longer than back in the early 2000s or 2010s.
>Was VINCI involved in any projects for the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar?
None of QDVC's projects in Qatar are directly related to the World Cup. The first infrastructure projects were entrusted to QDVC before the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar. VINCI didn’t sign any contracts with the national organising committee or build any stadiums or hotels.
The Doha metro system, which connects the airport with the historic centre (Msheireb), the Lusail light-rail transit system, the PS70 pumping station, the New Orbital Highway ring road that connects the Messaid port to the Doha industrial area, the Sheraton Park or the Lusail parking lots were built for the National Vision 2030 adopted by the Qatari government with the aim of developing and diversifying the economy in order to gradually reduce its dependence on the hydrocarbon industries.
Human rights
> Are there any ongoing investigations into forced labour allegations made against VINCI in Qatar?
French NGO Sherpa filed a complaint in March 2015, accusing VINCI of using forced labour and allowing poor living and working conditions on its sites in Qatar. Following an initial investigation, the Nanterre Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the case for lack of evidence in January 2018. On 18 November 2018, Sherpa and fellow French NGO CCEM refiled the complaint against VINCI, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, QDVC and a group of executives and managers for the same allegations.
On November 9, 2022, VINCI was summoned by the investigating judge in Nanterre with a view to an indictment. VINCI reminds that under French law, an indictment is not an acknowledgment of liability, and VINCI remains confident about the outcome of this investigation started in 2019 and still not yet closed, considering the quality of its practices and the importance attached by the Group to the respect of human rights.
To this end, VINCI continues to fully cooperate with the judicial authorities, just as it has since 2015, with the aim of demonstrating that the allegations against the group are not justified. VINCI has in parallel lodged a request for cancellation of the indictment before the chamber of investigation of the Versailles Court of Appeal for lack of material and corroborative evidence.
In this context, the placement in police custody of some employees and former employees of VINCI that took place on September 20, 2023, are quite surprising.
> Do you confiscate workers’ passports?
QDVC has never confiscated workers’ passports. Workers keep their passports and have access to personal safes. Before QDVC had its own base camp, workers were able hand over their passports to the company for safekeeping and get a receipt.
> What is the salary of a worker?
The average package for a QDVC worker is currently €1,100 (QAR 4,557). This includes a net salary of €445/month, plus housing, food, transportation and laundry. This level of pay is higher than local standards and is steadily increasing. The minimum monthly wage in Qatar as of March 2021 is €495 (QAR 1,800), which includes a net salary of €275/month (QAR 1,000) plus housing and food.
> What about the subcontractors salaries?
We monitor our subcontractors to ensure that they pay their workers the minimum wage, overtime at the prevailing rate and according to labor regulations
> What are the working hours?
QDVC employees work 8 hours per day (+ 2 hours overtime on a voluntary basis), 6 days a week, representing a maximum of 60 hours per week, which is in line with ILO recommendations. Extra hours beyond 8 are paid at 125%, and 150% on Fridays and public holidays (See the section Employment and living conditions).
> How do you protect workers in the event of high temperatures?
All outdoor work in direct sunlight is prohibited between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. between June 1 and September 15 (See the section Health and Safety).
We deploy a new program every year to prevent the risks associated with hot weather. An awareness campaign is organized for all workers, and the sites are equipped with temperature and humidity sensors. Workers regularly monitor the temperature felt on the sites. If it exceeds 32.1 degrees WBGT, on-site work is stopped.
> What are the complaint mechanisms for workers?
A workers' committee was established as early as 2011, which saw its scope and prerogatives strengthened in 2014. The commmittee deals with issues such as working conditions, remuneration, housing conditions, health and safety, etc. In 2016, QDVC organized the first free elections of workers' representatives in the country. A mechanism for individual complaints has also been established, and workers can use the independent whistleblower mechanism established with BWI (See the section Workers' representation).
> Are there many accidents on construction sites?
QDVC safety statistics in Qatar are better than in Europe. The statistics include all QDVC employees including subcontractors.
> Should VINCI work in Qatar if we know that human rights are at risk?
We've asked this question to a major international NGO that campaigns for the respect of human rights in the world and its answer was categorical: "if companies like yours leave the country, we will never be able to change practices.
We do not blacklist countries in general, except of course those where the safety conditions of our employees cannot be guaranteed. On the other hand, in all the countries where we operate, we apply our safety and business ethics standards, and we strive to change local practices.
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Read also: VINCI’s operations in Qatar