FIFA has rejected calls for an independent monitor to assess conditions for migrant workers in Saudi Arabia in the build-up to the 2034 World Cup.
ITUC-AFRICA, a union organization representing 18 million African workers, has urged increased protections for migrant workers with the mega-state, a union organization representing 18 million, the construction program required to deliver the tournament. In response, FIFA argued that the measures currently in place are adequate, claiming that they entitle the hosts to “uphold their duties and responsibilities under international human rights standards in all activities associated with the tournament.”
ITUC-Africa submitted FIFA’s request last month in response to what it described as Saudi Arabia’s “troubling record” on human rights and FIFA’s ruling on the same issue in evaluating the Saudi bid. FIFA has called for a number of specific interventions, including the end of the Kavala labor system and allowing independent monitors to monitor workers’ conditions.
In a letter seen by The Guardian, FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, responded to ITUC-Africa but is not directly engaging with its requests. Instead, it refers to commitments already made by the Saudi authorities in their bidding literature, including a proposal to establish, in Grafström’s words, “a workers’ welfare system to monitor compliance with labor rights standards for workers related to the tournament.”
In the official Saudi bid document, the phrase “workers’ welfare system” does not appear, although the hosts describe a “working group” made up of a number of Saudi government departments “to define the governance structure to oversee the implementation of the system.” [human rights] The strategy.” The bid document also promises to “leverage relationships from within this group and beyond to engage with key partners including the United Nations, Labo International[u]R Organization, Saudi National Committee for Workers, and others,” although the nature of any such has not been made clear.
An estimated 10 million migrant workers are currently residing in Saudi Arabia, and they are expected to make up the majority of the workforce needed to deliver the extensive World Cup infrastructure. Projects promised as part of Saudi Arabia’s winning bid include the construction of 11 brand-new stadiums, expanded transportation networks and an estimated 185,000 hotel rooms, a doubling of current capacity.
In his letter, Grafström said FIFA plans to “engage constructively” with international labor rights organizations in the run-up to the 2034 World Cup. “The FIFA World Cup will highlight Saudi Arabia for the coming years, which could provide an opportunity for actors within the country and beyond.” Then to promote positive change,” he wrote.