The adoption of a human rights declaration by the Gulf Cooperation Council that was designed to "shield wealthy Gulf monarchies" from criticism by human rights and trade union activists "is likely to increase pressure on the sports-focused Gulf state to significantly alter its controversial migrant labor system," according to James M. Dorsey of the HURRIYET DAILY NEWS. The declaration, which groups Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, "was adopted earlier this month." The declaration acknowledged that “people are equal in dignity and humanity, in rights and freedoms, and equal before the law” with “no distinction between them for reasons of origin, gender, religion, language, color, or any other form of distinction.” That acknowledgement strengthens demands by human rights and trade union activists that Qatar "embrace the principle of collective bargaining that would eliminate its system of setting wages for migrant workers according to nationality." Qatar "has been slow in acting on pledges it has made, as well as recommendations, in a slew of reports published in recent years." Qatari officials said that "a reform of the country’s labor law was likely by the end" of this year. The reform "is expected however to fall far short of the demands of activists and the recommendations made in the various reports" (HURRIYET DAILY NEWS, 12/29). In Abu Dhabi, Gary Meenaghan wrote European Club Association Vice Chair Umberto Gandini and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino were part of a task force set up by FIFA "to help reach a conclusion regarding which month the tournament in Qatar will take place." The 40-person-strong task force "will meet once more in Doha in February before delivering their findings a few months later." Yet when the subject "was raised yesterday the two men gave contrasting opinions." Gandini said that the ECA is "keen to explore the possibility of hosting the month-long tournament in May 2022 and categorically ruled out any date in 2023." Infantino said that, for him, May 2022 "is not an option and January 2023 must be looked at" (THE NATIONAL, 12/29).
