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David Cameron urges Qatar to improve safety for World Cup workers David Cameron urges Qatar to improve safety for World Cup workers
(about 5 hours later)
David Cameron has urged Qatar to improve standards for World Cup stadium workers following a Guardian investigation that revealed alarming numbers of migrant labourers are dying in the building boom in the run-up to the 2022 showpiece. David Cameron has urged Qatar to improve standards of care for World Cup stadium workers following a Guardian investigation which revealed that alarming numbers of migrant labourers are dying in the building boom in the runup to the 2022 showpiece.
The prime minister said that the Gulf state could learn from the UK's example when it was preparing for the 2012 London Olympics. The prime minister said the Gulf state could learn from the UK's example when it was preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.
"My message is that they ought to insist on better," Cameron told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We, in the Olympics, I think I'm right in saying, managed to build that entire Olympic Park with the best ever record on safety – no one dying during construction, keeping injuries to an absolute minimum. It can be done. The British construction industry we really can hold up as a good example to the rest of the world.""My message is that they ought to insist on better," Cameron told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We, in the Olympics, I think I'm right in saying, managed to build that entire Olympic Park with the best ever record on safety – no one dying during construction, keeping injuries to an absolute minimum. It can be done. The British construction industry we really can hold up as a good example to the rest of the world."
He said the British building industry had not had such a good record in the past but that "everyone has a duty to insist on the best safety standards".He said the British building industry had not had such a good record in the past but that "everyone has a duty to insist on the best safety standards".
The International Trade Union Confederation has warned that at least 4,000 migrant workers could die in the construction frenzy leading up to the 2022 World Cup, which will see at least $100bn (£60bn) spent on up to nine football stadiums, a new airport complete with a separate terminal for the Emir, a highway to Bahrain, a railway and metro network and 29 new hotels. The International Trade Union Confederation has warned that at least 4,000 migrant workers could die in the construction frenzy leading up to the 2022 World Cup. At least $100bn (£60bn) will be spent on up to nine football stadiums, a new airport complete with a separate terminal for the Emir, a highway to Bahrain, a railway and metro network and 29 new hotels.
From 4 June to 8 August this year, 44 Nepalese workers died, about half from heart failure or accidents. On Monday, Qatar responded to the Guardian reports by pledging to crack down on private building companies who exploit migrant workers. From 4 June to 8 August this year, 44 Nepalese workers died, about half from heart failure or accidents. On Monday Qatar responded to the Guardian reports by pledging to crack down on private building companies who exploit migrant workers.
Labour minister Saleh al-Khulaifi said the Gulf state would recruit more inspectors to mount raids and checks on companies to ensure they comply with labour laws and hire more interpreters to speed up the treatment of complaints from foreign workers. The labour minister, Saleh al-Khulaifi, said the Gulf state would recruit more inspectors to mount raids and checks on companies to ensure they complied with labour laws and hire more interpreters to speed up the treatment of complaints from foreign workers.
International union leaders have described the response as "extremely weak and disappointing" amid concerns that Qatar's labour ministry may not be in full control of the pre-World Cup building programme and that the separate Qatar 2022 supreme committee is more influential. Human Rights Watch welcomed the move but called for prosecutions to create a deterrent effect. International union leaders have described the response as "extremely weak and disappointing", amid concerns that Qatar's labour ministry may not be in full control of the pre-World Cup building programme and that the separate Qatar 2022 supreme committee is more influential. Human Rights Watch welcomed the move but called for prosecutions to create a deterrent effect.
Fifa's executive committee is due to meet this week in Zurich, where it will consider the impact of allegations of abuse of foreign labour in Qatar on World Cup preparations. Pressure has been growing on Fifa and Qatar to act, with FifaPro, the global alliance of professional footballers' unions, saying last week it was deeply alarmed at the deaths of workers. Fifa's executive committee is due to meet this week in Zurich, where it will consider the impact of allegations of abuse of foreign labour in Qatar. Pressure has been growing on Fifa and Qatar to act, with FifPro, the global alliance of professional footballers' unions, saying last week it was deeply alarmed at the deaths of workers.
• The Guardian's investigation into modern-day slavery is supported by Humanity United. Click here for more information • The Guardian's investigation into modern-day slavery is supported by Humanity United. Click here for more information.
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