After being questioned by Belgian legal authorities last weekend on charges of corruption involving members of and others connected to the European Parliament, ITUC General Secretary Luca Visentini was freed from custody on Sunday. However, the police have never implied that the ITUC is being looked into or is suspected.
The ITUC acknowledges the gravity of the situation and is steadfast in its commitment to having no tolerance for corruption. Next week, there will be a special meeting of the ITUC General Council to discuss these issues.
According to media sources, Qatar is connected to suspected corruption. For more than 11 years, the ITUC has worked tirelessly to improve Qatar’s labour laws. The ITUC has praised the legal changes implemented in Qatar and has stated that more pressure is needed. However, both implementation and enforcement fall short.
Any claim that any other entity, whether from Qatar or elsewhere, has influenced the ITUC’s stance is untrue because the ITUC’s work on Qatar has always been wholly based on objective study and evaluation of the facts. Furthermore, at the 5th ITUC World Congress, held in Melbourne last month, the organisation reaffirmed its continuous commitment to change in Qatar and other Gulf governments.
Luca Visentini said: “I am pleased that the questioning has concluded and I was able to fully answer all the questions. Should any further allegations be made, I look forward to the opportunity to refute them, as I am innocent of any wrongdoing. Any form of corruption is completely unacceptable and I am absolutely committed to the fight against corruption. I also wish to reconfirm the position that I have taken publicly that further pressure must be put on Qatar for workers’ and other human rights. The situation today is still not satisfactory, as I stated to the media at the end of my visit to Qatar.”
