TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Approaching World Cup 2022, the Confederation of International Trade Unions (ITUC) said the Qatari government would increase labor inspections in the country. These inspections include additional health and safety checks for worker protection.

Rights groups and unions have warned that hospitality, transport and security workers are particularly vulnerable during the tournament, which will be the first to be held in the Middle East.

At an ITUC meeting with officials from the Ministry of Manpower, representatives of trade unions and international labor organizations in Doha will set up special labor inspections during the World Cup. “During the World Cup, the Ministry of Manpower will implement a special labor inspection campaign, which will include increased health and safety checks,” the ITUC said.

In a statement quoted by Reutersadded the ITUC, “A Working Time Directive to protect workers from unscrupulous employers will also be issued.”

The decision by the Confederation of International Trade Unions to carry out inspections has not escaped the spotlight and criticism from human rights groups over the Qatari government’s treatment of migrant workers ahead of the World Cup. This has resulted in reforms that include protection against unpaid wages, a monthly minimum wage of 1,000 riyals or about 4 million rupees, and making it easier for workers to change employers.

Qatar’s labor laws limited workers to a maximum of 60 hours per week, including overtime with a mandatory 25% premium. This percentage is part of their normal salary and workers are entitled to one day off per week.

According to Ruwan Subasinghe, legal director of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, during the tournament, 1.2 million visitors will come to Qatar. The increase in the number of visitors makes workers vulnerable to exploitation. “There will be a targeted campaign to send a message to entrepreneurs that just because there are thousands of people here, they cannot escape a number of conditions,” Subasinghe said.

Qatar is a country with a population of 2.8 million. The majority of the population are migrant workers. They are Qatar’s backbone for the preparation of the 2022 World Cup.

Mustafa Qadri, labor rights consultant for Equidem, warned that labor confederation inspections do not necessarily protect workers’ rights. Additionally, he also raised concerns about the potential for unpaid wages accompanied by discrimination. “With tens of thousands of workers entering the country (Qatar), we don’t have the capacity to monitor all of this, so the risk is very high,” Qadri said.

DOHA NEWS | REUTERS | DESY ALHAMDIANA PRINCESS

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