Amnesty International Challenges FIFA to Publish Review on Migrant Workers’ Rights in Qatar

Amnesty International has called on FIFA to release a review investigating the treatment of migrant workers involved in building stadia and infrastructure in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. The independent review, which was conducted following the tournament and approved by the FIFA Council in March, has yet to be made public. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of Labour Rights and Sport, emphasized the importance of FIFA addressing the abuses related to the World Cup and ensuring justice for the workers.

Amnesty International has previously accused the Qatari authorities of neglecting to investigate the deaths of workers who were involved in the construction leading up to the 2022 World Cup. The organization has pointed out that extreme heat and unsafe working conditions have been key factors contributing to the fatalities of numerous migrant workers. With FIFA’s upcoming Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, Amnesty has urged the global governing body of football to release the review on working conditions in Qatar.

According to Cockburn, FIFA received the review several months ago but has not disclosed its findings or taken any action based on the recommendations. This delay, as noted by Amnesty International, only serves to prolong the suffering of families who have lost loved ones and workers who have endured abuse while working on the World Cup. Cockburn stressed the importance of FIFA responding promptly to the review’s findings and taking steps to address the human rights abuses that have been identified.

While acknowledging that the pain caused cannot be undone, Cockburn highlighted the opportunity for FIFA to demonstrate a commitment to justice by outlining a plan to address the harms that have been inflicted. By dedicating some of its substantial resources to remedying the abuses related to the previous World Cup, FIFA could take a significant step towards fulfilling its human rights obligations. This, in turn, could have a life-changing impact on the affected workers and their families, providing them with some measure of relief and redress for the injustices they have suffered.