World Cup 2022: Louis van Gaal joins call for compensation funds following labour abuse in Qatar

Dutch boss Louis van Gaal has backed a compensation fund being set up to support families of migrant workers who have died while working to set up the World Cup in Qatar.

The call for the fund has been led by Amnesty International, with many families not being compensated because there was no autopsy and their death was not considered a work-related accident but a natural cause of death.

This is despite the fact that they are largely relatively young men who simply work long hours in extraordinary temperatures.

In July, human rights groups Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FairSquare wrote to FIFA’s 14 business partners and World Cup sponsors urging them to call on the governing body of world football to address the abuse of migrant workers in connection with the preparations. for the World Cup.

Now, two months before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, former Manchester United manager Van Gaal has expressed support for the idea as he insisted FIFA face the consequences when he responded to their ‘ smart’ decision to award Qatar the tournament.

“Of course I support the compensation funds (for the victims of labor abuse in the construction of the World Cup stadiums in Qatar) and I think that should be done, especially when you consider that billions, I mean millions that FIFA benefits from the tournament.

“If they’re smart enough to host the World Cup there, they’ll have to stand by whatever comes after that decision.”

Van Gaal is not alone in his support for the creation of a compensation fund, as it was found last week that 67 percent of adults who took part in a YouGov survey commissioned by Amnesty International believes FIFA should use World Cup revenue to compensate workers who have suffered.

Many families have not received compensation for employee deaths because there was no autopsy

That support rose to 84 percent for those likely to see at least one match at the tournament. The poll surveyed more than 17,000 adults in 15 countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

It is unknown if England will join the call for a compensation fund, but Gareth Southgate and the FA are expected to make a clear statement this week on Qatar’s human rights.

The England manager has raised the issue of workers’ human rights before, while captain Harry Kane said he would speak with other international captains about players making a concerted symbolic gesture in support of human rights.

FA chief Mark Bullingham, who was part of the UEFA working group for Qatar, is expected to take the lead in positioning the FA.

Van Gaal urged FIFA to face the consequences when he lashed out at their ‘smart’ decision to award Qatar the tournament

The UEFA Working Group for Qatar has already supported the establishment of a Workers’ Centre, a safe place for workers in Qatar to obtain representation in labor disputes, as a legacy of the World Cup.

The FA is now expected to call for the creation of the Workers’ Center after being criticized for failing to make a previous collective statement on human rights in Qatar.

Responding to the survey, FIFA said: “FIFA takes note of the poll conducted on behalf of Amnesty International with respondents from 10 countries in Europe and five countries from around the world on the issue of labor standards and protection in Qatar.

Respondents may not be fully aware of the measures FIFA and its partners in Qatar have taken in recent years to protect workers involved in the delivery of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The FA is expected to issue a statement on Qatar’s human rights this week

As recognized by independent experts such as the International Labor Organization and international trade unions, a wide range of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve worker protection in Qatar, and these developments have largely come about as a result of the Global Cup being held. played in the country.

This includes FIFA and its partners in Qatar who put pressure on companies when necessary to ensure remediation of employees involved in the preparations for the FIFA World Cup. Workers have been compensated in various forms with companies failing to comply with the Workers’ Welfare Standards of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the standard used by FIFA and the host country to protect workers involved in FIFA World to ensure Cup-related activities.

“These measures were complemented by steps taken by the Ministry of Labor to enforce Qatari labor laws and provide access to recovery, such as through the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.

“FIFA will continue its efforts to facilitate rehabilitation for employees who may have suffered adverse consequences in connection with FIFA World Cup-related work in accordance with its human rights policies and responsibilities under relevant international standards.”