FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to set up a panel to ensure "decent working conditions" for laborers building the stadiums that will host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. On his first visit to Qatar since he was elected in February Infantino announced the new panel, which will include “relevant sectors of civil society and other relevant Fifa stakeholders.” While the committee organizing the World Cup has introduced new labor standards for its contractors, "there is concern not enough is being done to tackle the problems caused by the kafala system that bonds workers to their employers." Harvard professor John Ruggie last week published "a wide ranging independent report into FIFA's human rights responsibilities and made 25 recommendations." Infantino, who had "previously reassured the Qataris there was no prospect of the tournament being moved," said, "We take our responsibility seriously and are committed to playing our part" (GUARDIAN, 4/22). REUTERS' Westall & Homewood reported Infantino said that Qatar, the tournament's first Arab host, "supported the monitoring initiative." Infantino said, "I acknowledge very much the efforts which are being done. I want to see these efforts now being put in practice. Of course we will not just sit and wait. FIFA will step up its efforts in overseeing ... in order to ensure the protection of the workers' rights in the construction of the FIFA World Cup sites is fulfilled." Infantino said that he had told Qatari PM Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani measures taken by Qatari authorities to ensure fair working conditions "were going in the right direction" (REUTERS, 4/22). BLOOMBERG's Mohammed Sergie reported Amnesty Int'l researcher on Gulf migrants' rights Mustafa Qadri said that FIFA's plan was "encouraging" but more must be done "to make sure it isn't a World Cup built on labor exploitation." Qadri: "Sadly, when it comes to labor rights in Qatar, it's been a bit of a Groundhog Day now for quite a few years" (BLOOMBERG, 4/22).
