London, Europe Brief News – FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch (FERW) delivered its findings on human and workplace rights in Qatar this week. Robert Ould’s 18-month initiative examined the consequences of giving the FIFA World Cup to the small Gulf state, criticized for exploiting migrant workers’ rights.
Report Regarding Improvement in Working Conditions in Qatar Amidst the Fifa Worldcup
The research report, which contains the first independent survey of migrant workers in Qatar, revealed improvements in compensation, such as the adoption of a minimum salary, formation of a commission to assess pay, health and safety procedures, working hours, the overall treatment of individuals employed in the emirate, and the repeal of the Kafala immigration system. This restricted program bound people to their employer.
In a presentation to the APPG for Football, led by veteran Labour MP Clive Betts, FERW commended the “magnitude and rapidity” of the changes, claiming the largest shift was the termination of the Kafala system “revolutionized” the working climate in Qatar.
Termination of the Kafala System in Qatar
FERW UK Campaign Director Alistair Thompson said, “The Kafala system linked employees to bosses.” It banned individuals from changing employment or leaving the nation, even if their employer didn’t pay them or mistreated them. It was the main hurdle to Qatar’s labor market reform. Since its repeal, employees may change occupations freely, as shown by the fact that 300,000 migrant workers changed jobs between September 2020 and March 2022. This earthquake has changed Qatar.”
Mr. Thompson said, “This was reinforced by FERW Report survey of employees and information FERW Report obtained from the International Labour Organization, a UN body. They claimed to enable workers to move employment freely tended to encourage businesses to improve conditions and remuneration. Many businesses, although not all, increasingly value skills and experience above cheapness due to the free mobility of labor. FERW Report is watching for more evidence in the coming months.
While noting considerable gains, the presentation acknowledged that more effort was needed in certain areas, giving the example of unethical businesses seeking to counteract the termination of the Kafala system by adding non-compete terms into employment contracts. Mr. Thompson said parliamentarians had heard this from the ILO and Ministry of Labour, who are working together to prohibit this practice with new laws later this year.
People’s Response About the Condition of Immigrant Workers in Qatar
Mr. Thompson also discussed the survey’s migratory worker results. 95% of respondents believed the World Cup improves human rights and labor conditions in Qatar, while 5% answered no.
A majority claimed their working environment and treatment had improved. At the same time, two minor groups indicated circumstances had improved for some (53%) or the rules required additional enforcement (16%), and 13% said they had not felt any advantage from the changes.
The think tank found no evidence that FIFA was responsible for these changes. The report’s author believes was a wasted opportunity by football’s ultimate governing body to establish basic criteria for the treatment of residents and employees in nations competing to host the World Cup.
Qatar Faced Boycott Scares By FIFA
FERW Report heard proof that the activities of human rights organizations, lawmakers from the UK and EU, and foreign media had played a major role in turbo-charging the changes that had begun slowly in 2008 with the release of the Qatari Vision 2030,” Mr.Thompson said. The primary message was that interaction and challenge were better than boycott scares.
The research tank admitted that the study was highly biased towards individuals in the construction and allied sectors, but there were some promising indicators for those in the household sector.
