Qatar continues to receive global praise for its labour reforms

Doha

The State of Qatar continues to receive worldwide acclaim for the major reforms it implemented in the field of labour and the protection of workers' rights, especially as it is on the threshold of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, which will be held on November 20 to December 18.

Experts, officials, and former players underlined that Qatar has carried out major reforms to protect the rights of workers, and provide them with safe and secure workplaces and decent livelihoods.

In this context, Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and former prime minister of Togo Gilbert Houngbo said that Qatar has witnessed great development over the past years, and introduced a number of amendments and reforms to the labour law in a very short time, including the abolishment of the sponsorship system and travel permit, which are very significant reforms.

During his interview with the program 'International' on the French TV5Monde, Houngbo valued the reforms taken by Qatar to protect the rights of migrant workers, including the decision to prohibit outdoor work from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm during the summer months, which would provide greater protection for workers from heat stress; pointing out that the World Cup gave the ILO the opportunity to make some changes in Qatar, which in turn approved several reforms in files that are not even talked about in some other countries.

For his part, Honorary President of the German FC Bayern Munich Uli Hoeness stated that it is important to continue to give countries like Qatar the honor of hosting and organizing sporting events because there is evidence of the progress they are making.

Speaking to Sonntags-Stammtisch program on Germany's BR24 TV, Hoeness said that it is important to continue to give countries like Qatar the honor of hosting sporting events because there is evidence of progress in the human rights field, which is the best in the entire Middle East region.

Retired German international player Bastian Schweinsteiger said it is too early to evaluate the experience of holding the World Cup in Qatar, especially since this experience is unique, and no tournament has been seen like this before, so it is difficult to pass judgment on it now.

The German star added in a special interview with Germany's 'Sport1' TV that no one can talk today about whether holding the tournament in Qatar is preferred or not, because the tournament will definitely be held in this country, and it should be given a chance.

Expressing his aspiration for this tournament, he said: "I trust the words of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz when he spoke about the improvement of conditions in Qatar."

For its part, the Russian magazine Kulturologia said, in its analysis under the title 'FIFA World Cup represents an occasion to create a new cultural space', that based on its belief in the shared commons between football and arts--they unify a lot of people around them, and Qatar's hosting of the mega sports event creates new cultural spaces by preparing an extensive cultural program that includes the construction of three new museums at the same time, in addition to the existing museums.

The Russian magazine added that FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a unique edition as it will be the first World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East, and the first World Cup edition to be held in the Northern hemisphere during autumn and winter. The magazine said that Doha has been seriously and magnificently preparing over the past 12 years to host the World Cup. The organizers want guests to see not only the world-class hosting but also to learn about the culture and traditions of the country.

The magazine pointed out Qatar's scale of preparations to host an impressive World Cup edition that made the whole world watch the country turn into a great cultural center as it expanded in opening cultural institutions and museums such as the Lusail Museum - oriental art collection, and projects embodiment of eleven International Pritzker Architecture Prize winners.

The magazine concluded its analysis by saying that the Qatari government looks beyond hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to be a tourist attraction and to make Qatar a global cultural center.

The Uruguayan magazine 'El Pais' interview with the Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to the State of Qatar HE Dr. Jorge Antonio Sere Sturzenegger tackled Qatar's preparations to host FIFA World Cup 2022 and his recommendations for Uruguayan fans coming to cheer for Uruguay. His Excellency said that this is the first World Cup to be held in the region, adding that Qatar as a conservative and traditional country does not mean it is not a hospitable country, quite the contrary.

He noted that the Uruguayan community in Qatar is not of a large number, but Uruguayan fans will flock to Doha from all over the world. He added that the Embassy of Uruguay had prepared a comprehensive guidebook explaining the steps that Uruguay fans should take, the prohibitions that they should avoid, along with some other things. 

He also talked about the possibility of Uruguay benefitting from the stadiums after dismantling them, as they will be donated to other countries. And though Qatar did not name these countries, Uruguay can expect to be one of the beneficiaries, he said.