NGO group says Fifa should pay £356m reparations to Qatar migrant workers
England and Gareth Southgate have been asked to support the initiative, described as an “innovative scheme” that would “provide some real redress” for workers, as attempts to leave a positive legacy for the tournament come into focus six months before the opening World Cup fixture in Doha...
According to the organisations, Fifa should “reserve an amount not less than the $440m prize money offered to teams participating in the World Cup, to be invested in funds to support remediation…
“This amount reflects a likely ‘floor’ for the scale of harm suffered. The final amount required for remedy will be determined by the scale of the need, the harms to be redressed and reparation measures to be offered, should be decided through a participatory process and subject to an independent evaluation.”
Fifa, in response, said it was “assessing” the proposals. It said it had put in place “an unprecedented due diligence process” in relation to the protection of workers...
The [Qatari] ministry of labour said “Qatar is proud of the reforms it has introduced” and that progress in labour reforms was “irrefutable”. It said £110m of payments previously owed to migrant workers had been distributed via the government’s Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.