International Trade Union Confederation Vows To Closely Monitor Qatar World Cup Projects

The Int'l Trade Union Confederation said on Tuesday that it would "pressure international construction companies behind World Cup infrastructure in Qatar into respecting worker rights in what they described as a 'slave state,'" according to the AFP. ITUC Secretary General Sharan Burrow said that the umbrella group was "watching as European, US and Brazilian companies compete for work in the Gulf emirate." Sharan added that a contract for "metro tunneling and construction has already been awarded to Italian building group Impregilo and local Italian unions will be contacting the company." FIFA said that it is consulting with int'l labor groups on "conditions in Qatar, while the desert state has promised reforms to its labor laws to offer greater protection to workers" (AFP, 8/22).