FIFA is reportedly "facing legal action in the Swiss courts over its alleged complicity in the mistreatment of migrant workers in Qatar" ahead of the 2022 World Cup, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Since FIFA voted in Dec. '10 to "hold the World Cup in the tiny Gulf state, Qatar has faced intense criticism over the plight of an army of migrant workers" that soared to 1.7 million as the country embarked on "a construction spree to build the stadiums and infrastructure required." But the legal challenge, brought by the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) on behalf of a Bangladeshi migrant worker called Nadim Sharaful Alam, is the first time that FIFA "has been made directly accountable in the Swiss courts." While the damages sought by Alam "are relatively modest, if the action is successful it could open the door for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers to make similar claims" that could run into tens of millions of pounds. FIFA has "consistently argued that while it does not have responsibility" for wider "societal problems" in host countries, "it is doing what it can to make the Qatar World Cup a catalyst for change" by engaging with the Qatar government to ensure satisfactory conditions for workers on World Cup stadium sites (GUARDIAN, 10/10).
ALAM SEEKING $11,500: REUTERS' Sterling, Finn & Homewood reported Alam is seeking around $11,500 in compensation. On arrival in Qatar, "his passport was taken away and he was forced to work for 18 months under harsh conditions," according to a draft letter to be filed with Zurich's Trade Court. A Qatar government spokesperson "had no immediate comment." It has "previously denied exploiting workers and says it is implementing labor reforms." A FIFA spokesperson confirmed receiving a legal letter laying out the case. She said that FIFA's "position on this matter is well-known," pointing to plans under discussion to set up a group to monitor working conditions in Qatar (REUTERS, 10/10). In London, Ben Rumsby reported in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino accompanying a draft writ, lawyers acting for Alam demand FIFA "acknowledge that it has acted wrongfully by awarding the World Cup 2022 to Qatar without demanding the assurance that Qatar observes fundamental human and labour rights vis-à-vis migrant construction workers whose work is related to the 2022 World Cup." The letter said that the organization, which until February was led by Sepp Blatter, "should have demanded the abolition" of the "kafala" system under which migrant workers "are beholden to an in-country sponsor, something described as a form of modern slavery" (TELEGRAPH, 10/10).
