Qatar officials have "refuted an international trade union group's claim that thousands of people will die getting the country ready for the 2022 World Cup," according to Shabina S. Khatri of the DOHA NEWS. This week, the Int'l Trade Union Confederation "reiterated its prediction that 7,000 workers in Qatar would be killed building the stadiums and infrastructure that the country needs to host the FIFA football tournament." The figure "appears to be based on annual fatality rates of all expats in Qatar, and does not take into account profession or cause of death." This is "problematic especially because foreigners comprise some 90 percent of the country's population." In response to ITUC, Qatar's government communications office called the estimate "groundless" and "a deliberate distortion of the facts." In a statement it said, "There is absolutely no reason to believe that thousands of workers will die on World Cup sites, and repeating this falsehood, all evidence to the contrary, does not make it true." Qatar also defended its treatment of blue-collar expats, saying that "it is working to ensure people are paid on time through the new Wage Protection System and that reforms to the kafala sponsorship system are expected to take effect next year." Finally, ITUC "pressed FIFA to get involved in Qatar's labor system, and urged the government to adopt reforms" that include:
- Establishing a "minimum living wage for all migrants;"
- Allowing workers to "establish unions so that they can negotiate with their employers;"
- Stepping up "inspections and ensuring fair and effective dispute resolution for workers in erring companies, including subcontractors" (DOHA NEWS, 12/21).
