European Parliament votes for FIFA and Qatar to compensate migrant workers

European Parliament votes for FIFA and Qatar to compensate migrant workers

On 24 November, the European Parliament adopted a resolution regarding the situation of human rights in the context of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. MEPs notably criticised the treatment of migrant workers as well as the fact that the country had been awarded the organisation of the World Cup amid bribery and corruption allegations.

As a result, MEPs urged EU Member States – specifically countries with large national football leagues - to exert pressure on UEFA and FIFA so as to help reform FIFA. As part of these reforms, the aim would be to achieve more transparency in tournament awarding processes, as well as stringent human rights compliance and enforcement of sustainability standards.

While MEPs acknowledged that the Qatari government had compensated victims of wage abuse through the “Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund”, they indicated that the fund did not extend coverage to many workers in Qatar. As a result, they demanded that the fund covers all workers affected, including those who had suffered other human rights violations in consequence.

Accordingly, Parliament called upon Qatar to thoroughly investigate fatalities among migrant workers in the country and compensate family members in cases where workers died due to unsafe working conditions.

On 20 November, Commissioner for Promoting European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas represented the European Union at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. During the visit, Schinas met several members of football associations and took part in an event on the European Sport Model with UEFA's President Ceferin. Afterwards, he stated how Qatar deserves global success due to the reforms delivered and highlighted how the European Sport Model is an inspiration to all.

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