SWITZERLAND: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - FIFA's Sepp Blatter says Qatar's world cup working conditions must improve

Record ID: 862904

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - FIFA's Sepp Blatter says Qatar's world cup working conditions must improve
  • Date: 21st November 2013
  • Summary: FILE (DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 9, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKERS AT CONSTRUCTION SITE
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2013 12:00
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  • Location: Switzerland
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  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABBMRWGG4S8RKTZH47MB451BTA
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  • Story Text: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has described the labour rights situation in 2022 World Cup host nation Qatar as unacceptable and said that the situation has to change.
    FIFA said in a written statement released on Wednesday (November 20) it believed that "fair working conditions must be introduced quickly, consistently and on a sustained basis" for the estimated 1.3 million foreign workers in the country.
    Blatter wrote in the same statement: 'Economic and political leaders must contribute to improving the unacceptable situation in Qatar. That is why I welcome the initiative shown by the DFB and ITUC because together we can achieve change. I am convinced that Qatar is taking the situation very seriously. These very discussions about Qatar show just what an important role football can play in generating publicity and thus bringing about change.' The statements were issued in Zurich after Blatter met Michael Sommer, president of the International Trade Union Confederation, which like other organisations including Amnesty International is campaigning for improved treatment of migrant workers in Qatar.
    In a video interview also released by FIFA after the meeting, Blatter said: "The, the matter is now that they want to change something and they need your help, our help and that's why together we are working to, let's say, to make sure that through football, something can be changed. But we are, we are only one of the tools to go there to change something. But who has to do it? First of all it's the legislation of the country, the reception of all the workers there and secondly the responsibility of all the companies they are working there."
    Blatter said he would be reporting on his discussions with Sommer to the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Brazil in December and a full report on all talks would be given to the committee next March.
    "Qatar has to work on these problems, together with the others I have just said and we have taken now the time to go until March next year to monitor the situation and then to come back to the FIFA Executive Committee in March to report. Also that already on the fourth and fifth December in, in Brazil, I will report on these discussions we have had today," said the FIFA head.
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