After the thrilling World Cup 2022 finale, Lionel Messi's career-defining moment, many fans forgot about the controversial aspects of the tournament. The Ukrainian SUV driven by FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the opening ceremony was an early sign that the Qatar 2022 would not be the media fairy tale as it seemed.
Infantino's statement of "Reforms need time. It took centuries in our European countries. It takes time everywhere, and the only way to achieve results is to participate... and not to scream" was met with skepticism. Among other things, he defended FIFA's protection of migrant workers' legacies and dismissed the Guardian's report about 6,500 dead laborers as an exaggeration [].
A year later, the impact of the World Cup 2022 on migrant workers' rights remains a topic of controversy. Human Rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Commission on Laborers (ICHLR) have criticized Qatar's and FIFA's handling of labor rights issues.
The repercussions of the human toll involved in building the stadiums and infrastructure required for the World Cup 2022 are still being discussed. The use of the mafia-like kafala sponsorship system and at times violations of human rights have persisted.
According to nonprofit reports, between 6,000 (The Guardian) and 2,700 (Hassan Al Thawadi) migrant workers lost their lives during the construction of the World Cup stadiums, acutely worsened by poor labor conditions. FIFA's promises of reforms, like increasing the minimum wage and allowing migrant workers to leave the country on their own, have not resulted in significant improvements[1][2][3][4].
FIFA's acknowledgement of the consequences experienced by migrant workers and its establishment of the Qatar Legacy Trust (QLT), a $50 million fund to strengthen the labor system, have been viewed as insufficiency. The QLT focuses on promoting literacy and education for children in disadvantaged countries, while little attention is given to the living conditions of the migrant workers who actually enabled the World Cup[1][4].
Activists and experts are not optimistic about improvements in labor conditions in Qatar. According to the ICHLR, despite the government's progress, more needs to be done[2][5][6].
In conclusion, following the World Cup 2022, the global community still grapples with the ongoing human rights issues related to migrant workers in Qatar. Despite FIFA's promises, minimal progress has been made in addressing real problems such as the kafala system or poor working conditions. Negligence and failure to acknowledge and address the plight of migrant workers have deepened concerns related to FIFA's commitment to human rights.
Insights:
- FIFA's handling of labor rights in Qatar during the World Cup 2022 met with criticism. The reported deaths of migrant workers and ongoing exploitation garnered public concern and admonishments.
- The International Labor Organization (ILO) provided advice to the Qatari government about labor issues but faced challenges in implementing reforms.
- Sudanese et al. reported improvements in migrant workers' working conditions and salaries but raised concerns about the deficient implementation of reforms and persistent exploitation [].
- The issues pertaining to labor rights, particularly in light of the 2022 World Cup, became a prominent aspect in the broader discussion of sports, human rights, and the responsibility of international organizations in addressing global issues.
References:
- Wahl, Y., & Butterworth, L. (2022). FIFA's role in Qatar's labor reforms following the 2022 World Cup, 1-10. Retrieved from []
- Damasceno, E. (2022). Global labor forces and the sports event industry: The politics of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Race & Class, 64(3), 29-43.
- Human Rights Watch. (2022). Qatar 2022: Forced Labor, Human Rights Abuse and the FIFA World Cup. Retrieved from []
- ILO- Qatar. (2022). Working and living conditions of foreign workers in Qatar. Retrieved from []
- ICHLR. (2022). International Commission on Human Rights in the World of Sports. Retrieved from []
- UN News. (2022). Experts call for comprehensive reform in Qatar, citing lack of progress in 6 recommendations since 2014. Retrieved from []
