Globalt, fackligt krav: ”Inför nytt center för Qatars migrantarbetare”

Att kämpa för grundläggande fackliga rättigheter är sedan länge en självklarhet för fackföreningsrörelsen.

De organisationer, inklusive svenska LO, Saco och TCO, som står bakom uttalandet, uttrycker stark oro över att migrantarbetarna i Qatar saknar grundläggande rättigheter, trots att det är tack vare dem som fotbolls-VM överhuvudtaget går att genomföra.

När mänskliga rättigheter i arbetslivet saknas lämnas fältet fritt för ”skrupelfria arbetsgivares missbruk”, vilket enligt uttalandet gör det möjligt att fortsätta att utnyttja migrantarbetare.

Världsfacket ITUC uppmanas nu att stå bakom kravet på att ett särskilt center för migrantarbetare ska införas i Qatar, något som det globala facket BWI och svenska Byggnads fört fram sedan länge.

Syftet med centret är, enligt de undertecknande organisationerna, att stärka de mänskliga rättigheterna i arbetslivet, att förbättra arbetsvillkoren och ge handlingsfrihet och en röst åt migrantarbetarna, även långt efter att fotbolls-VM för herrar är över.

Uttalandet:

GLOBAL LABOUR STATEMENT ON THE PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN QATAR AFTER THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP

International trade unions hereby raise serious concern about the situation of migrant workers in Qatar, whose fundamental rights are denied as they face serious challenges in seeking justice, compensation, and protections from the new labour laws against unscrupulous employers, and as the 2022 FIFA World Cup starts. Migrant workers in Qatar and across the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) are considered to account for over 90 per cent of the workforce in the private sector - the majority of being temporary and subject to more precarious situations.

Global labour movements recognise progress made by the International Trade Union Confederation and the Global Union Federations since the award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar, in particular the reform of the kafala sponsorship system; the introduction of a non-discriminatory minimum wage; and the establishment of a labour justice system.

However, we, the undersigned, express with deep concerns that there are serious shortcomings with the effective implementation and enforcement of labour reforms and law. In the absence of trade union rights and mechanisms to address injustices, the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous employers will continue.

We reiterate that respect for worker rights depend on good enforcement from above, but also on the organisation of workers from below. Only their participation in the reform implementation will ensure future sustainability, as migrant workers will continue to be part of Qatar’s labour force and economy even after the World Cup.

Hence, we see the need to speak out and use the leverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to keep the attention and further support migrant workers during and after the tournament. It is the task of trade union movement, the ITUC and the global unions to build on progress made and further additional union-led initiatives, such as the Migrant Workers’ Centre, to promote the full realisation of migrant workers human and trade union rights, in anticipation, during and after the tournament.

THEREFORE, the global labour movements hereby signing on call on the ITUC to support of the proposal to the Qatar Authorities and FIFA to recognize and support the establishment of a Migrant Workers’ Centre run by migrant workers’ representatives as a vital contribution to realising the rights, improving the conditions, giving agency, and amplifying the voice of migrant workers long after the Games are over.

Melbourne Australia, November 19th, 2022

Signed on by:

Peggy Hessen Følsvik, President LO Norway
Josua Mata, SENTRO Philippines
Danilo Lasarna, FFW Philippines
Jerome, KMU Philippines
Yasmin Fahimi, President DGB Germany
Ragnhild Lied, President UNIO Norway
Agnes Jongerius, President FNV Netherlands
Therese Guovelin, First Vice President LO Sweden
March Leemans, President CSC Belgium
Sonja Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, President BSRB Iceland
Miranda Ulens, Secretary General FGTB Belgium
Lizette Risgaard, President FH Denmark
Wolfgang Kotzian, President OGB Austria
Ergün Atalay, president Turk-IS Turkey
Osman Isci, KESK Turkey
Jarkko Eloranta, President SAK Finland
Elly Rosita Silaban, KSBSI Indonesia
CGIL Italy
Veronica Magnusson, Second Vice President, TCO Sweden
CS Panama
Antti Palola, President STTK Finland
Hans-Erik Skjæggerud, President YS Norway
CONUSI Panama
Antonio Lisboa, International Secretary CUT Brazil
Elva Hrönn Hjartardóttir, ASI Iceland
Paul Nowak, Deputy Secretary General TUC UK
Zwelinzima Vavi, Secretary General SAFTU South Africa
Göran Arrius, President Saco Sweden
Japeth Moyo, Secretary General ZCTU Zimbabwe
YANG, Kyeung-Soo, KCTU Korea