QFA and SC hosts UEFA workers’ rights working group

Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) met with officials from UEFA – European football’s governing body – to outline Qatar’s progress on the road to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The UEFA delegation included members of its workers’ rights working group, who were given an extensive overview of Qatar’s progress in relation to workers’ welfare.

QFA and SC representatives gave an overview of host country preparations and led a visit to Ras Abu Aboud Stadium – the first fully dismountable tournament venue in FIFA World Cup history. The 40,000-capacity stadium will be inaugurated during the FIFA Arab Cup, which will take place in Qatar later this year. The tournament will help Qatar fine-tune preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will kick off on 21 November 2022.

The SC outlined the various measures it had implemented over the past decade to protect workers, including numerous health and safety initiatives, the recruitment fee reimbursement programme, innovative cooling work wear and nutrition programmes, among various other special projects.

In addition to meetings with the QFA and the SC, UEFA members met representatives from the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO), the global trade union Building and Wood Worker’s International, and the National Human Rights Committee.

Michele Uva, UEFA’s Football and Social Responsibility Director, said: “ We thank the Qatar authorities and in particular the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for their openness, transparency, and commitment to dialogue they offered us. We are sure that together we will contribute to improve the legacy of this event.”