FIFA to crack down on Qatar construction concerns

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the creation of the new oversight body last week, which will be comprised of independent members to monitor systems in place to ensure decent working conditions at FIFA World Cup stadiums.

The move is an attempt by the world football’s governing body to ease fears of human rights abuses in the state following a number of reports from media and other organisations on rights abuses.

The issue of migrant workers rights and working conditions is one that comes up regularly with Balfour Beatty and Interserve recently being admonished for its alleged mistreatment of workers linked to its sub-companies in the region.

Infantino said in a statement: “I have seen the measures taken by the Supreme Committee and I am confident that we are on the right track. An encouraging example is the Supreme Committee’s response to issues that have occurred, such as the ones raised by Amnesty International in its latest report.”

In March, Amnesty reported on alleged abuses in Qatar’s preparations for the World Cup in a wide-ranging document. Based on the accounts of 132 workers at various sites, the report claimed workers from Nepal and India had been charged recruitment fees as well as kept in terrible living conditions and having their wages withheld and passports confiscated.

Speaking about the announcement of the group, Amnesty International’s Gulf migrants rights researcher, Mustafa Qadri, said: “The announcement of an oversight body and Infantino’s admission that FIFA must take human rights seriously are welcome steps in the right direction.

“Amnesty has already exposed human rights abuses on the Khalifa stadium and the surrounding Aspire Green Zone which need addressing right now. These cases also demonstrate the need to ensure FIFA’s human rights monitoring is not limited just to stadiums but includes all other activities linked to the tournament.”