Building and Wood Workers’ International has been working with the government of Qatar since 2016 and was part of a collaborative effort that led to the abolition of the kafala system in the country two years ago. Union officials, however, now believe that efforts to consolidate change – including the creation of a migrant worker center – have been thwarted and “see no sign that sustainable change is coming”. The news will come as a blow to those inside and outside soccer who had clung to the prospect of salvaging a positive outcome for a World Cup marred by human rights concerns, most notably the deaths of more than 6,500 migrant workers since the tournament took place. awarded to Qatar in 2010. Quick guide
Qatar: beyond football
projection This is a World Cup like no other. For the past 12 years the Guardian has been covering the issues surrounding Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migrant workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is brought together on our dedicated Qatar: Beyond Football page for those who want to delve into issues beyond the pitch. The Guardian’s reporting goes well beyond what happens on the pitch. Support our investigative journalism today. Thanks for your response. “After more than a decade of Decent Work Campaigning around the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, two days before the tournament, Building and Wood Workers’ International … is calling on the Qatari authorities to join BWI in leveraging and expand the improvements created and create a center for migrant workers that will allow workers to have a say in their fate,” the organization said. “This is a legacy for Qatar and the world that will live on after the World Cup tournament is over. However, to date, there is no indication that this is a sustainable change.” BWI submitted three requests to Qatar’s labor ministry a year ago, calling for the creation of a labor center, the implementation of higher health and safety regulations in the construction sector and more consistent implementation of changes already agreed. BWI said it was “regrettable” that it had “still not received a response to any of the positive initiatives. Instead, there is a deafening silence. In football terms, the migrant workers are playing overtime and the result is still unknown.” While some groups have called for a boycott, BWI had chosen to work with Qatar. The association believes progress has been made. “On many occasions, BWI has recognized the advances made in Qatar in recent years in terms of labor laws,” it said. Her frustration is now palpable and has led to frustration with the Qatari government and tournament organizers FIFA, which BWI accuses of failing to meet its own human rights standards. “FIFA adopted a human rights policy and BWI was represented on a small body to oversee progress,” the association said. “The policy expresses its commitment to respect all internationally recognized human rights and to promote the protection of those rights. This includes supporting, accompanying and sustaining reforms and enabling further progress in protecting the human rights of migrant workers in Qatar towards and beyond 2022. “However, FIFA’s human rights commitments no longer appear to have the same priority as they did when the policies were developed and adopted. There is a fundamental conflict between a strong human rights policy and a ‘business as usual’ approach. A Qatari government official said: “Qatar remains in close dialogue with all its international partners, including Building and Carpentry International and the International Labor Organization (ILO), on the future of the labor reform programme. “Qatar first entered into its cooperation program with the ILO in 2017, marking the inauguration of the first regional project office. We have extended this fruitful partnership until 2023 in order to further support the implementation of reforms. Qatar is committed to its progress journey. What we have achieved in a few years has taken decades to achieve in other parts of the world, and in many countries, this process is still ongoing. “Transforming our labor market and protecting the rights of all workers in Qatar is a priority for our government, which will continue long after the World Cup ends.” The Guardian has approached Fifa for comment.
