FA URGED BY AMNESTY TO LOOK INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AHEAD OF 2022 WORLD CUP

A human rights group has once again urged the Football Association to pile up pressure on world football governing body FIFA to ensure the full protection and safety of the rights of migrant workers in Qatar.

The Gulf state is currently experiencing bloodshed and has been chosen to host the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup, with the opening game of the tournament slated to hold on the 21st of November in two years.

According to Reality Check 2020 a new Amnesty report, it has been pointed out that although there have been developments and reforms made about the country’s labor laws, there are still some certain issues that are halting the success of progressive positive changes being implemented. These issues have to do with rogue employers being held accountable for their actions.

Kate Allen, its UK director officially wrote to Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of the Football Association. In her letter, she wrote urging the national football governing body to get more active in ensuring that FIFA carries out its corporate responsibility of being effective in addressing human rights abuses that have a connection with the tournament.

The Amnesty report goes on to state that earlier this year, it sent information to FIFA about how a subcontractor overseeing some work activities on one of the selected venues for the tournament had failed to pay the allowances or wages of about one hundred migrant workers for up to seven months. In other cases, they failed to renew these migrants’ residency permits.

FIFA responded that it was not in any way aware of the situation until their filed report came in. With similar cases occurring, the Football Association and FIFA have again been contacted and the Amnesty group believes a change should be effected.