German Union IG Bau praises SC workers' welfare efforts

The continued progress on workers' welfare at 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ sites –and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's (SC) willingness to engage in open dialogue – has been highlighted by German union IG Bau after a recent conference in Berlin.

Speaking to www.sc.qa on the sidelines of the BWI Global Sports Campaign for Decent Work: Sports-Migration Nexus and Labour Inspections event – at which SC Secretary General H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi gave a keynote speech – Fritz Heil of IG Bau said: "This conference was a good platform to exchange experiences.

"We had good discussions, we have a memorandum of understanding which we jointly elaborated and signed. We are open to this cooperation."

Fritz Heil of IG Bau addresses delegates at the BWI Global Conference on Nexus of Sports and Migration

The German official added that other countries around the world faced similar issues.

"Being open for dialogue is always a good sign for cooperation. There is a lot to do to improve the rights of workers in Qatar but also of course in other parts of the world.

"We rely on people who are open and are listening. There is potential that this is something which can improve the workers' rights but we of course have to see that these improvements are sustainable."

Meanwhile, IG Bau Vice President Dietmar Schaefers concluded that the cooperation between the SC and BWI was already bringing about positive results.

"In a short time we have been able to achieve a lot, for example the agreement with Qatar about joint inspections on the World Cup sites," he said. "The inspections are going ahead as planned, and in addition our colleagues are able to give insight on work site safety.

"A positive sign is also the fact that the Secretary General of Qatar's organising committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, took part in this conference."

Workers at a 2022 FIFA World Cup™ stadium site

A wide variety of organisations including Human Rights Watch, International Labour Organisation, IG Bau (Germany), UNITE (UK), UNIA (Switzerland), NDLON (USA) and Bayern Munich also took part in the BWI conference in Germany, where Al Thawadi spoke of the important role which the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Arab world has to bring about sustainable change.

"The World Cup has created an environment for enabling a working agreement between the Supreme Committee and BWI. This speaks volumes for our vision. It is a platform for progress and for bringing people together from all sectors of global society," Al Thawadi said in remarks to delegates from around the world.