Building work at Curitiba's 2014 World Cup stadium, the Arena da Baixada, has been "suspended on the orders of a Brazilian labour tribunal due to numerous and serious safety breaches," according to Tatiana Ramil of REUTERS. The Parana Regional Labor Tribunal said in a statement that judge Lorena Colnago said in her written decision, "Countless infractions have been committed, in various stages of the building project." In the "latest blow to tournament preparations," Colnago said that there was "a serious risk of workers being buried, run over and of collision, falling from heights and being hit by construction material, among other serious risks." Work is "already behind schedule at the stadium" and Colnago added that a "new inspection would have to be carried out before it could re-start." After a visit from FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke in August, the stadium's owner, Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense, agreed to abandon "plans to fit a retractable roof to save time." FIFA said that all stadiums "must be ready for delivery in December and no delays would be tolerated" (REUTERS, 10/2). AS reported Colnago "threatened a fine" of €165,000 ($224,268) if "construction is not suspended." The stadium was "scheduled to be completed by December and was 78.9% complete by the end of August." Arena da Baixada will host "four World Cup games, all in the first phase" (AS, 10/2).
'NO PLAN B': The BBC reported the news comes a week after an investigation "revealed that construction workers employed on another World Cup-related project faced what were termed 'slave-like' conditions." Investigators said that "more than 100 workers employed to expand Sao Paulo's international airport were living in unsuitable accommodation near the building site." Valcke said in regards to further delays that there was "no plan B" (BBC, 10/2).
