Blatter slams `unacceptable` migrant workers’ conditions for 2022 Qatar World Cup

Washington – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has slammed the working conditions for migrant workers in Qatar as ‘unacceptable’ following an Amnesty International report, which claimed that migrant worker abuse was rife in the country which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The head of world football’s governing body agreed with International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) president Michael Sommer to quickly introduce ‘fair working conditions consistently and on a sustained basis in Qatar’.

According to CNN, Blatter said in a statement that the unacceptable situation in Qatar regarding working conditions is a big concern for FIFA and himself, adding that the economic and political leaders must contribute to improving the ‘unacceptable situation’ in Qatar.

However, Blatter said he believes that Qatar is taking the situation seriously and addressing criticisms over its treatment of migrant workers, adding that these discussions about Qatar show what an important role football can play in generating publicity and thus bring about change.

Agreeing with Blatter, Sommer said that Qatar must guarantee the International Labour Organization’s core labor standards and thus eliminate discrimination and forced labour as well as allow freedom of association for its 1.3 million migrant workers.

The meeting at FIFA headquarters was mediated by German Football Federation president Wolfgang Niersbach, who said the World Cup coming to Qatar will help improve conditions in the country.