Qatar's progress in labour rights questioned in Council of Europe, as World Cup nears

Record ID: 1693032

  • Title: Qatar's progress in labour rights questioned in Council of Europe, as World Cup nears
  • Date: 13th October 2022
  • Summary: DOHA, QATAR (FILE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKERS CARRYING CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL IN A BUILDING SITE DOHA, QATAR (FILE - JUNE 5, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SPORTS HALL BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2022 13:41
  • Keywords: Qatar World Cup labour rights
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Europe,Sport,World Cup
  • Reuters ID: LVA008197713102022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly examined Qatar's progress in workers' rights on Thursday (October 13), a little over a month before the World Cup tournament kicks off.
    Doha has come under scrutiny and criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers. Despite Qatar's efforts, the Council of Europe said more results need to be seen.
    "The number of tragic accidents continues to run into the hundreds. And enforcement of new rules isn't sufficiently effective. Workers don't have the right of assembly," said Lord George Foulkes, who chaired the hearing.
    Qatar's representative in the hearing, Mahmoud Qutub said new labour standards have been put in place, as well as a mechanism for workers to air their grievances without fear of retribution.
    "The flagship grievance platform that we introduced to workers' welfare reforms allows workers to seek remedy through democratically elected representatives," said Mahmoud Qutub, Qatar's World Cup organising committee's senior advisor for workers' rights.
    The head of the Norwegian football association, Lise Klaveness, said Qatar must still address several issues, such as the need for independent investigations of unexplained workers' deaths, the right to organise and the criminalisation of homosexuality.
    Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup.
    Migrant workers and other foreigners make up the majority of the Gulf state's 2.8 million population.
    It is recruiting thousands of overseas temporary workers to augment its workforce during the month-long World Cup, when it expects 1.2 million visitors.
    "Qatar is on the right track, a lot more so than Saudi Arabia or China which so far turned a death ear to us. But Qatar is on a long journey to create a situation we in Europe have in mind,” said Dietmar Schaefers, who heads the Building and Wood Workers International association.
    (Production: Michaela Cabrera)
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