‘Step in the right direction’

A memorandum of understanding between the global trade union, Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and Supreme Committee for the Delivery and Legacy (SC) of the 2022 Qatar World Cup is an important step in securing construction workers’ health and safety, Unite said today (November 15).

Signed today in Qatar’s capital Doha, the memorandum will see joint labour and accommodation inspections on World Cup projects in Qatar introduced from January 2017.

Drawing on its expertise from its 340 global affiliates including Unite, BWI will also conduct health and safety training for the SC and its contractors working on World Cup projects that fall under the agreement.

“This memorandum is an important step on the road to improving the living and working conditions of the construction workers who are making the 2022 Qatar World Cup possible,” said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail.

“It is testament to the tireless work of BWI and campaigners which importantly secures access to worksites and the right for BWI to conduct labour inspections,” she added.

“There is still a lot more to be done and a lot more hard work ahead. Unite has said consistently football is a beautiful game and those who make major sporting events possible by their hard labour deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. This is our goal.”