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Doha: FIFA has welcomed comments by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on workers’ rights in Qatar as further recognition of the progress made in the recent years with FIFA’s collaboration.
The ITUC stated that Qatar had made incredible progress on improving its treatment of foreign workers and that since 2016 there had been a reversal of the previous situation with reform laws, improved salaries and living conditions.
It also said it had been assured that labour inspections would be intensified during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, including extra health and safety checks to protect workers from exploitation.
"At the same time, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is looking at further ways to promote a lasting legacy for migrant workers in Qatar, such as closer cooperation with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)," FIFA said in a statement.
The FIFA President has spoken to Gilbert Houngbo, the former Prime Minster of Togo, on taking over as ILO Director-General for a five-year mandate.
“Delighted to have spoken to ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo to congratulate him on his new mandate in a vital role for the benefit of workers worldwide,” the FIFA President said.
“We have made significant progress in recent years through our collaboration together on the conditions of workers in Qatar and I am looking forward to a more formalised cooperation between our institutions on a global scale.”
The current FIFA leadership has been working to ensure real and substantive progress on labour reforms since Gianni Infantino was elected as FIFA President in 2016, the statement said.
