A global construction workers’ trade union recently carried out first joint inspections on 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar project sites and labour accommodations, along with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC).
The inspection was the first of many to be conducted by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), and SC this year. The inspections were carried out in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the organisations in November last year.
A Joint Working Group (JWG) has been formed to manage the inspections and reporting the process. Representatives from BWI spent two days with SC staff, including representatives from the SC’s Workers’ Welfare Division (WWD), Health and Safety Division (HSSE) and Technical Delivery Office (TDO).
The inspection visits began on Wednesday, February 1, at Al Wakrah Stadium. BWI members were provided access to the site to inspect OHS practices on-site and speak to workers about their conditions and treatment on the project.
They also reviewed the corrective measures put in place at the stadium, following the accidental death of Anil Kumar Pasman, a Nepalese labourer, in October last year.
The visit continued on February 2, when BWI inspectors were provided access to living accommodation facilities and spoke to workers about their situations and experiences.
BWI had given a constructive feedback, according to SC officials. The Joint Working Group will now study the outcomes of these inspections and a report will be published in due course.
The joint inspections cover all workers on SC projects, however the first joint inspections cover projects built by multi-national companies headquartered in countries where workers are represented by BWI member trade unions. To date, the companies that fall under the agreement are from Austria, Belgium, Italy, India, and Cyprus.
In accordance with the MoU signed by Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General and Ambet Yuson, BWI’s General Secretary, last year, a number of BWI representatives consisting of its affiliates from the United Kingdom and Finland, travelled to Doha to undertake the first of several joint inspections planned for 2017. The agreement is initially in effect for one year.
“We are pleased that inspections have begun so soon after effective date of the agreement on 1 January 2017. Our delegation was encouraged by openness of the process to participate in the joint inspections, where we had opportunity to speak with workers about their working and living conditions,” said Ky?sti Suokas, Vice-President of Rakennusliitto.
“Upon conclusion of each day, we also welcomed having the opportunity to provide our initial observations and suggestions to the contractors. We will work with the SC through the Joint Working Group to follow-up on the recommendations and corrective measures made by the companies engaged on the stadium project,” he added.
The joint inspections followed the death of Zac Cox at Khalifa International Stadium last month. The trip to Doha gave the BWI delegation the opportunity to discuss the fatality and subsequent investigation. .
Al Thawadi considers the first joint inspections with BWI to be a significant milestone for the SC and the organisation’s workers’ welfare journey.
“This agreement with BWI highlights our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of workers’ welfare standards and compliance across all of our sites. We have always been open, transparent, and committed to working together with well-respected international partners who share our vision of achieving sustainable change in this area,” said Al Thawadi.
