Global soccer governing body FIFA said it held talks on Tuesday with a number of member associations and confederations to address concerns relating to workers’ welfare and human rights in host nation Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Britain’s Guardian reported in February that at least 6,500 migrant workers – many working on World Cup projects – had died in Qatar since it won the right 10 years ago to stage the event, according to the newspaper’s calculations from official records.
Players from Germany, the Netherlands and Norway have since worn shirts before World Cup qualifiers voicing concern over human rights in Qatar.
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of Qatar’s organising body, assured the stakeholders during the meeting that “significant progress” has been made through a labour reform programme since the country was awarded the tournament in 2010.
The meeting also saw presentations from human rights organisations and workers unions with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground.
