During the buildup to the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has received criticism for its treatment of migrant workers. There have been reports of unpaid wages and forced labour. It has also been alleged that thousands of migrant workers have died. Some of these deaths are attributed to unsafe working conditions.
The Qatari government signed an agreement with the International Labour Organization in 2017. This promises to address widespread labour exploitation. It also promises to align laws with international labour standards.
While Qatar has made great improvements to its labour regulations, it is still not enough. FIFA should pressure the Qatari authorities to protect all migrant workers. It should also seek to use its leverage to ensure that labour rights are respected in broader infrastructure projects.
Qatar has spent over $200 billion on modernizing its infrastructure. In addition to the new stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, there are plans to build a metro system and roads. These projects will create over two million new jobs.
The FIFA World Cup will be the first to be held in the Middle East. It will attract 1.2 million visitors. Some have argued that the influx of 1.2 million people could create congestion. In response, Qatar has said that all fans are welcome, and that visitors should respect culture and tradition.
As the 2022 World Cup approaches, migrant workers will be serving fans at restaurants and hotels. There have been reports of overworked workers being paid only a fraction of their salary.
