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2nd December 2024, 14:59
Published by GBC News
FIFA has rejected a call from its own advisory body to compensate the workers harmed during the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights and Social Responsibility, chaired by Gibraltar’s Attorney General and President of the GFA Michael Llamas, was tasked by FIFA to commission a report so that it could consider compensatory measures for the workers.
However, despite being submitted at the end of last year, FIFA published the report (prepared by the human rights consultancy firm, Human Level) and the Sub-Committee’s Recommendations just days ago—after dismissing its key recommendation.
The Qatar World Cup has been engulfed in controversy from the moment it was announced as the host for the 2022 tournament.
Critics raised serious concerns about the extreme heat, inadequate infrastructure, and the nation’s troubling human rights record – many of which would be borne out.
An estimated 6,500 migrant workers reportedly lost their lives during the construction phase of the Qatari tournament, while many others suffered injuries, exploitative conditions and unpaid wages.
In response to a request made by the Norwegian Football Federation at the congress in Kigali last year, Fifa commissioned a report from its Sub-Committee on Human Rights and Social Responsibility. It’s chair is Gibraltar’s Attorney General and President of the GFA Michael Llamas with a remit to consider compensatory measures for the workers.
The report – delivered a year ago but only just published – points to ‘severe human rights impacts’ and highlights FIFA’srole in failing to ensure proper safeguards were in place to protect the workers. It acknowledges the workers’ vital contribution to the tournament’s success but stresses neither those harmed nor the families of the deceased have received adequate compensation.
The Sub-Committee report concludes that FIFA has a shared responsibility, alongside the Qatari authorities and other organisations involved, to provide a financial remedy to those impacted.
The report urges FIFA to take immediate action, including allocating funds from the £39.4m FIFA World Cup 2022 Legacy Fund to support the affected workers.
However, two days before the report was made public, FIFA announced the fund would instead be directed towards international development projects.
Speaking to GBC, Michael Llamas said there needs to be a balance between the fact that FIFA has decided to focus the Legacy Fund on prospective, rather than retrospective, projects. He saidFIFA’s decision doesn’t mean the issues were not closely considered and highlighted the important changes made to Qatar’s labour laws.
At a personal level, Mr Llamas said it has been a privilege to be the Chair of a Sub-Committee that brings together representatives from every continent and leading human rights and social responsibility experts from around the world, and which has been responsible for ensuring that one of the most eagerly awaited reports on world football has come to fruition.
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