FIFA chief says Qatar migrant workers 'get pride from hard work'
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FIFA tries to sweep under the rug the abuse sustained by migrant workers in Qatar working on the construction of stadiums for the World Cup later this year.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Migrant workers "gain pride" from hard work, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a millionaire, said when asked about the conditions of workers building World Cup stadiums and infrastructure in Qatar.
According to Infantino's assertions, workers would feel "proud" about building stadiums for the tournament that will be held later this year in the Gulf state, though they are subjected to horrid working conditions, leading many to die.
Infantino was asked if FIFA would make any sort of commitment to helping the families of workers who had died in Qatar.
He did not directly respond to the question, but he highlighted the introduction of a minimum wage and the "improved" employment rights in Qatar.
"Let's not forget one thing, when we speak about this topic, which is work, even hard work, tough work," Infantino, a man born in a wealthy country, said.
"When you give work to somebody, even in hard conditions, you give him dignity and pride. It's not charity," he said, from an administrative position of privilege.
He, himself, said three people had died in construction work for the stadiums.
"When it comes to the building of World Cup stadiums -- we are investigating all these matters with external entities. It is actually three persons who died," he said.
Other workers, he said in an attempt to absolve FIFA from responsibility, "might have died in other works and so on, and of course, FIFA is not the police of the world or responsible for everything that happens around the world."
The Qatari authorities refute the number of deaths of migrant workers reported by some international media, claiming it had introduced a series of reforms to its employment regulations since its selection to host the 2022 World Cup.
"Thanks to FIFA, thanks to football, we have been able to address the status of all the 1.5 million workers working in Qatar," Infantino said right after stressing that the body was not responsible for such matters.
