By Andrew Warshaw in Mauritius
May 31 – The issue of workers’ rights in Qatar, which has plagued the Gulf state and FIFA ever since the award of the 2022 World Cup, flared up in Mauritius today when a group of activists were arrested while staging a peaceful protest close to where the FIFA Congress was taking place.
The timing of the protest is confusing as only yesterday Qatar announced consultancy contracts for the build of the Al Wakrah Stadium complex which included the appointment of international construction specialists KEO who “will develop a world-class health, safety and environmental programme for the Stadium and Precinct.”
The protestors in Mauritius were detained after timing their action to co-incide with the arrival of FIFA’s 209 delegations at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre, but were released after seven hours as the conference was closing.
“Re-Run the vote, No World Cup without Workers’ rights” trumpeted the banners held up by local representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation whose campaign and communications specialist, Gemma Swart, was present.
“We have been arrested and held in (the Mauritius capital of) Port Louis by police for an hour and half without charge,” she was quoted as saying. “Our lawyers had advised us that, under local laws, we could hold a peaceful demonstration with up to 11 people.”
FIFA made no immediate comment but Swart, a South African, accused football’s world governing body of complicity on the very day it was due to pass a series of statute-changing reform measures to improve transparency and good governance.
“We have been arrested but the police haven’t been able to tell us what we are being charged with,” she said. “It appears the local police authorities here have come under heavy pressure from FIFA who do no want to admit to any concerns about workers’ rights in Qatar. We staged a similar protest in London last week outside the UEFA Congress without any problems.”
It seems unlikely that the Qataris needed any more reminding of the issues. And they will likely be wondering what they have to do to make the world understand they are addressing the issues.
Yesterday’s Qatari press release on the Al Wakrah stadium development, included a section on the Workers Charter: “Construction work carried out on Al Wakrah Stadium will be guided by the recently launched ‘Workers Charter.’ The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee firmly believes that all workers engaged on its projects have a right to be treated in a manner that ensures at all times their wellbeing, health, safety and security.
“The committee affirms that all contractors and sub-contractors engaged in the delivery of its projects will comply with the principles set out in this charter as well as all relevant Qatari laws. The principles of the charter will be robustly and effectively monitored and enforced by the committee for the benefit of all workers.
“Compliance with the Workers Charter and all relevant Qatari laws is a pre-requisite for the selection and retention by the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee of its contractors and sub-contractors.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734862233labto1734862233ofdlr1734862233owedi1734862233sni@w1734862233ahsra1734862233w.wer1734862233dna1734862233. Extra reporting by moc.l1734862233labto1734862233ofdlr1734862233owedi1734862233sni@n1734862233osloh1734862233cin.l1734862233uap1734862233