President of the world’s football governing body Sepp Blatter said that FIFA is not responsible for the welfare of labourers helping to build stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Blatter made the statement during his short visit to Sri Lanka, claiming that the employees are hired by companies from Germany, France, England and other European countries and that they are the ones who are responsible for their workers.
Qatar are depending heavily on foreign workers; mainly from South Asia, to build its roads, skyscrapers and stadiums. For many years, migrant workers from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines have traveled to the oil-rich Gulf state to work as cheap laborers and domestic helpers.
They have been faced with international criticism over the past few years, particularly on the increasing abuses, with human rights groups suggesting that tens of thousands of migrant workers are facing exploitation and severe misery.
The World Cup organisers released the design of their fourth stadium in Qatar on Tuesday. The Qatar Foundation Stadium in Doha is being designed to cater for 40,000 spectators, with the option of reducing the capacity to 25,000 after the tournament.
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