Once again a report by a credible international organisation has praised Qatar’s improvements in workers’ rights proving propaganda against the country by some section of foreign media as baseless.
FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch (FERW) has hailed the measures taken by the State of Qatar in the bid to host the 2022 World Cup. It also praised Qatar’s positive measures and significant improvements in workers’ rights as well as country’s legislative and legal measures in this regard.
FERW is an independent body that monitors and reports on ethical standards and implements corruption-free sports, focusing on football and its main governing body, FIFA.
FERW also confirmed that the State of Qatar presents a role model in dealing with the hosting file. It indicated that its observations on the ground proved the falseness of the allegations circulated by some foreign media, pointing out that the Qatari model in dealing with the hosting file is a model for all countries.
FERW had paid a three-day visit to Qatar at the invitation of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), where the organisation held meetings with officials from NHRC, the Ministry of Labour, and the ILO office in Doha. It also conducted interviews with workers and field visits to the residences of workers in the 2022 World Cup projects.
Alistair Thompson, FERW President, said in a press conference that there are disturbing rumors issued by some Western media, stressing that they had been proven false on the ground. He referred to the ILO praise of Qatar’s measures to improve the workers’ conditions and ensure that they obtain their rights. FERW President also praised the model stadiums built by the State of Qatar according to safe and sound foundations.
Director of the Bruges Group and a FERW manager, Robert Oulds, also expressed admiration for the progress witnessed by the State of Qatar and the openness of the labour market, pointing out that the State of Qatar has given the world an example to follow and has achieved what astounds people abroad.
Earlier in September this year, the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) had also lauded Qatar’s labour reforms terming them ‘real’ and a ‘model’ for regional countries. They had also advised those individuals or entities who criticised Qatar on workers welfare to visit the country to have first hand information.
They noted that Qatar has made a lot of progress in labour reforms and the fact was also being testified by many independent, international organisations like the ILO.
