Bangladesh unions join suit against FIFA over World Cup workers

[December 09, 2016]  DHAKA/DOHA (Reuters) - Bangladesh labor activists said on Friday they had joined a lawsuit in Switzerland against world soccer body FIFA for allegedly failing to use its influence to ensure people working on 2022 World Cup facilities in Qatar are treated fairly.

The suit, filed in FIFA's home city of Zurich with the backing of the largest labor union in the Netherlands, calls on FIFA to force Qatar to adopt "minimum labor standards" for migrant workers preparing for the tournament, including at least the right to quit a job or leave the country.

The Gulf state has faced criticism of its treatment of foreign workers from Amnesty International, the Building and Wood Workers' International organization and others.

Repon Chowdhury, secretary general of the Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress, confirmed the organization had joined forces with Dutch union FNV in the suit on behalf of a Bangladeshi man who says he was harshly exploited in Qatar.

It joined the suit as co-petitioner after failing to get compensation from the man's employer, Qatar or FIFA, he said.

"We tried to settle the issue amicably, but all our efforts failed and ultimately we had to file a petition," Chowdhury said. "As the umbrella body of trade unions, we feel that his right as a human being has been denied and we strongly raised our voice against this violation of rights."

A Qatar government spokesman had no immediate comment. Doha has previously denied exploiting workers and says it is implementing labor reforms.

Under Qatar's "kafala" system, foreign workers must get their employer's consent to change jobs or leave the country. Qatar will pass a law next week that lets workers appeal to the government if their employer stops them leaving the country.

A FIFA sign is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo

Critics say workers will still find it hard to change jobs or travel.

Gas-rich Qatar is pursuing a $200 billion infrastructure upgrade and has recruited hundreds of thousands of workers from countries such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Foreign workers outnumber the local workforce by nearly 10 to one and can be jailed or deported for forming unions or holding protests.

FIFA was not immediately available for comment. In the past, it has cited plans under discussion to set up a group to monitor working conditions in Qatar.

(Reporting by Serajul Quadir in Dhaka and Tom Finn in Doha, writing by Michael Shields in Zurich, editing by Larry King)

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