Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 was an excellent opportunity for the country to implement strategic development projects leading to a quantum leap in infrastructure, progressive policies and sustainable development within one decade. The tournament was a platform for the world to become familiar with Arab and Muslim cultures, as Qatar became the first country not only in the Middle East but also in the Arab world to host the mega event.
The world’s biggest football tournament was also an incredible opportunity to enhance the welfare standards of thousands of workers. The country welcomed over 30,000 workers from across the globe to be part of this historic sporting fiesta and help them prepare and deliver a fantastic tournament.
On the road to 2022, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), established in 2013 a legacy programme, ‘Workers’ Welfare & Labour Rights’ aimed at achieving the best practice in protecting the labour force in Qatar, the region and the world.
To achieve these safety milestones, the WWS developed by the SC ensured workers’ health, safety and wellbeing.
The SC continued to steer the implementation of the WWS across several branches associated with delivering the FIFA World Cup, protecting around 200,000 workers.
Also, various outreach activities were organised to honour workers and celebrate their shared passion for football, enabling the workers to enjoy special FIFA Legends match and providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet and interact with players and coaches from different countries. This was not possible without identifying issues, follow-ups with contractors and coordination with government authorities.
The programme tested how the SC leveraged the transformative power of sports to deliver lasting social change. Through this programme the SC has made the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first FIFA tournament that had a dedicated workers’ welfare and labour rights team to protect their rights.
According to the SC, when the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar, ‘WWS’s team of inspectors met and interviewed more than 8,000 workers across stadiums, training sites and non-competition venues throughout the tournament, to ensure that workers’ rights were protected’.
Though the World Cup and the euphoric celebrations it brought to the nation have concluded, the SC’s focus on workers’ welfare continues uninterrupted.
The SC, its commitment to collaboration and knowledge transfer will ensure that the pioneering work undertaken over the past decade continues to inform and strengthen Qatar’s labour reforms to protect migrant workers.
