CONSTRUCTION union UCATT have criticised FIFA for once again “ignoring the plight of migrant workers, enduring slave like conditions”, in Qatar.
A FIFA task force has recommended that the 2022 World Cup scheduled for Qatar, should be played in November and December, due to the heat.
UCATT say the decision fails to take into account that two million migrant workers, building the World Cup and the Qatar’s infrastructure, are working six days a week in temperatures which can reach 55 degrees.
Since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar over 1,400 construction workers from India and Nepal have reportedly died and the total death rate of all migrant workers is far higher.
UCATT claims wages are often withheld from workers for months on end and pay can be as low as 56 pence an hour.
Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said, “Once again FIFA have chosen to worry about the health of footballers and not the health of the workers building what will be a blood-stained World Cup.”
