By David Gold
January 18 – Hassan Al-Thawadi (pictured), secretary general of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, has promised to give more rights to construction workers building stadiums for the World Cup in the gulf state.
Qatar has come under pressure over the treatment of workers after the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) last year threatened to disrupt work on stadia for the 2022 World Cup, the first that will be held in the Middle East.
The ITUC warned that conditions for workers were “inhuman”, with limited rights and no access to unions, as well as labelling conditions unsafe.
Al-Thawadi, speaking in Doha, confirmed that Qatar would improve conditions and rights, saying that “major sporting events shed a spotlight on conditions in countries”.
“Sport, and football in particular, is a very powerful force – certainly we can use it for the benefit of the region,” he added.
“There are labour issues here in the country, but Qatar is committed to reform.
“We will require that contractors impose a clause to ensure that international labour standards are met.”
FIFA last year met with representatives of the unions, and pledged to include labour rights in the criteria for future World Cup bids.
It also promised to take up the issue with Qatari authorities, and it appears their pressure has come to bear with Al-Thawadi’s comments.
In total some nine new stadia will be constructed for the 2022 World Cup and three more renovated.
Almost $40 billion (£26 million/€31 million) is to be spent on infrastructure in the build up to the tournament, and Al-Thawadi confirmed that a management contract to oversee those projects was due to be awarded in the first three months of 2012.
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