From Boarding School to Freelancing: Food Security Dilemmas of Ghanaian Migrants in Qatar

This paper explores the intersection of labour migration and food security among Ghanaian migrants in Qatar, shedding light on how migration governance, employment conditions, and economic constraints shape their access to and consumption of food. The findings from in-depth interviews in Qatar reveal a complex landscape in which migrants navigate employer-controlled food provision, financial limitations, and cultural adaptation in their dietary habits. One of the most striking findings from the interviews is the unpalatable nature of company-provided food. Many migrants expressed dissatisfaction with the meals in employer cafeterias, describing them as monotonous, nutritionally inadequate, and culturally irrelevant. The repetitive content of meals also fails to align with the traditional Ghanaian diet, leading to food dissatisfaction among workers. Migrants compared the experience to being in a boarding school, where choice was absent and focused on cost efficiency rather than nutritional value. Furthermore, company policies that bar cooking in accommodation units further restrict workers’ ability to supplement their diets, with workers facing penalties for attempting to prepare their meals