HRW slams FIFA for not backing World Cup labor compensation scheme

LONDON: The world governing body of football, FIFA, has not committed to a fund to compensate migrant workers for injuries and deaths suffered while working on stadia and infrastructure in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which begins in just seven weeks.

Human Rights Watch said this came despite European football’s governing body UEFA, seven national football associations — including those of England, France, Germany and the US — four World Cup sponsors, the general public of 15 countries and myriad former players and public figures calling for one following the launch of the #PayUpFIFA campaign with fellow groups Amnesty International and FairSquare on May 17.

In addition, on Oct. 13 FIFA’s Deputy Secretary-General Alasdair Bell told the Council of Europe that a compensation fund was “certainly something that we’re interested in progressing.”

Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, called FIFA’s inaction an embarrassment.

“Despite prominent footballers, football associations and sponsors supporting the #PayUpFIFA campaign and widespread popular support, FIFA has still failed to commit to calls for a remedy fund for many thousands of migrant workers who died, were injured, or had their wages stolen while making the World Cup possible,” he said.

“FIFA is failing in its human rights responsibilities and showing its disdain for the migrant workers who built the Qatar tournament infrastructure that will fuel its profits.”

The building program that has accompanied Qatar’s successful World Cup bid has been plagued by accusations of mistreatment of migrant workers, including unpaid wages and a significant number of deaths.

Efforts to address these issues and reform the kafala visa