By Andrew Warshaw in Jordan
May 13 – Qatari authorities are set to make a landmark announcement on the contentious issue of workers rights within the next few days, possibly as early as Wednesday, as pressure continues to build on the 2022 World Cup hosts over the treatment of migrant employees.
Sources have linked the imminent announcement in Doha to the late withdrawal of 2022 World Cup organizing chief Hassan al Thawadi from the Asian Soccerex Forum on the edge of the Dead Sea where he was one of the main speakers and had been due to deliver a key address on progress being made in the Gulf state.
Given the mounting concern over the safety of construction workers as well as the ongoing summer or winter debate, al Thawadi’s speech had been eagerly awaited but he was forced to pull out and instead attend a 2022 board meeting which was apparently called by the Emir of Qatar.
As a result, Al Thawadi’s place was taken by Nasser Al Khater, his communications and marketing director who gave Soccerex delegates an update on the finals in eight years’ time and was especially keen to put the record straight on a number of issues – not least the circumstances under which scores of migrant workers have lost their lives, drawing global condemnation and scores of negative headlines.
“Contrary to what the international media says there has not been a single injury or death on the World Cup projects,” said Al Khater who made the point that only one stadium was currently under construction and that five would get under way by the end of this year. “It’s not possible when you are still digging a hole in the ground to have more than 400 deaths so I would like to make sure this specific matter is put to rest. We are taking workers’ welfare very seriously.”
Al Khater revealed that “important announcements” would soon be made on the issue of workers welfare and was also at pains to stress that no firm decision had yet been made over cutting from 12 to eight the number of World Cup stadia though he hinted strongly it was unrealistic, given the size of the country, to go for the full quota.
FIFA stipulate that World Cup hosts have a minimum of eight and a maximum 12 stadiums and Al Khater said: “There has been a lot of speculation that Qatar has minimised the number of stadiums … and some have said it’s because of budget cuts. That’s not true.
“Given the size of the country, (while) we propose 12 stadiums, eight are in final preparation. Of those eight, five will be in different phases of construction by end of this year, with the remaining three announced after 2014. Then, in 2015 we will decide alongside FIFA how many stadia Qatar really needs. We will make sure that the World Cup will represent the Middle East …and that when we welcome the fans they get a taste of the culture and understand that the Middle East is not what is being perceived right now.”
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