On November 20th, 2022 the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)World Cup will kick off in Al Khor, Qatar. The event will bring together close to 3 billion people, from across the world, to watch the best football players of our time compete to call themselves World Champions.
The World cup has been held every four years since 1930, and is widely known as an event that creates an exciting coming together of people from different backgrounds and cultures. However, as thrilling as the lure of the World Cup might be, it has now been disturbingly tainted by thousands of reports of labour abuses against migrant workers. Individuals from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and the Philippines were employed to build stadiums, airports, hotels and other infrastructure in order for Qatar to host this event.
Unfortunately many, if not most football fans around the world, have no knowledge of this fact. Whether or not FIFA, and the government officials of football teams, are competing know the full extent of the abuse against migrant workers, the clear ignorance and lack of action in the face of such injustices, is beyond appalling. Before the celebrations begin, it is crucial that all individuals, football fans or not, are made aware of the current events happening in Qatar, and demand change for migrant workers.
Most migrant workers have been facing the same labour abuses, including; delayed or even lack of payment, crowded and unsafe living conditions, and excessive working hours. This alone is a grave cause for concern, but when adding the factors of Covid-19 to already cramped living conditions, the extreme heat in Qatar, and the overall pressure of the looming deadline of a major world event, the labourers undoubtedly faced even larger barriers regarding safe and just working conditions.
Furthermore, an analysis from The Guardian in 2021 found that approximately 37 migrant workers have died with a direct connection to the construction for the 2022 World Cup. Furthermore 6,500 migrant deaths have been recorded since Qatar announced it would host the event in 2010. Despite these alarming numbers, there is also skepticism concerning the transparency from Qatar officials amongst news outlets like the Guardian, as well as international agencies such as the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty. This means that both the number of deaths, and other labour injustices, are most likely higher.
It is beyond evident that the government of Qatar needs to take action and protect the human rights of migrant workers who find employment in their country. More importantly, FIFA needs to make drastic changes to their policies on human rights for every individual or country that is involved in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, the events that have been taking place in Qatar follow a pattern of labour abuse in host countries. In 2014, Brazil held the FIFA World Cup, and similar to Qatar, there were many reports of labour abuse, as well as deaths of individuals working on infrastructure for the event. Antonio Jose Pita Martins and Maarcleudo de Melo Ferreira were two young Brazilian men who died due to unsafe working conditions during the construction of stadiums in the city of Manaus. In 2014, FIFA issued broad standards for human rights in the host countries that prepare to host the World Cup. Since then, and since the death and abuse of many workers in Brazil, FIFA has made more declarations on protecting the rights of workers. But alas, to no change.
There is a clear pattern of ignorance and indifference from FIFA when it comes to protecting the human rights of those involved in the World Cup. There needs to be concrete changes, instead of declarations and words that lead to no real action. It is their responsibility, and the responsibility of their biggest sponsors, to call on the Qatari government and future world cup hosts to completely end the continuance of labour abuse. Employees who dedicate their time into creating the infrastructure for a unifying experience, like the world cup, deserve fair and safe working conditions.
Edited by Sarah St-Pierre
Olivia is in her fourth year at McGill University. Since transferring from the B.Ed. kindergarten and elementary program she is currently majoring in International Development studies with a minor in Education. As a staff writer she publishes articles on issues relating to international development, with a particular interest in human rights, climate change, and health care.
An interesting and informative article Olivia. As fans of soccer it’s our responsibility to let FIFA know that they have the to power to change this, and if they do not…..we. the fans will hold them accountable!