The Supreme Committee (SC) of Qatar 2022 rejected trivializing its commitment to protect the health and safety of the workers who have built the World Cup stadiums. This, after the Hummel brand presented the Denmark kit with a reason for protest, in view of the history of human rights violations by the Persian Gulf country.
A SC spokesman assured who, since Qatar won the right to host the World Cup, has worked diligently with the Qatari government to ensure the tournament leaves a lasting social legacy. “Our commitment to that legacy has contributed to the implementation of important reforms in the labor system, enacting laws that protect the rights of workers and guarantee the improvement of their living conditions,” he said.
In a statement, he also noted that, thanks to their collaboration with the UEFA Working Group, FIFA-led platforms and other independent groups, they have maintained a strong and transparent dialogue with the Danish FA (DBU). “This has allowed us to better understand the progress made, the challenges we face and the legacy we will deliver beyond 2022”, he highlighted.
Along the same lines, he added: “We refute Hummel’s assertion that this tournament has cost his life to thousands of people. Furthermore, we wholeheartedly reject trivializing our genuine commitment to protecting the health and safety of 30,000 workers who built the FIFA World Cup stadiums and other tournament projects. That same commitment now extends to 150,000 workers from various tournament services and to 40,000 workers in the hospitality sector”.
Similarly, the organizing committee considered that the countries should always do more to protect people’s rights all over the world, including in Denmark. “The work of the SC is recognized by numerous entities of the international community, such as the ILO and the ITUC, as a reference in the region”, he added.
“Like all countries, progress in these issues is a journey with no finish line, and Qatar is committed to that journey,” he said. We urge the DBU to accurately convey the outcome of its extensive communication and work with the SC, and to ensure that this is accurately communicated to its partners in Hummel,” he concluded.