International trade union group pushes FIFA on rights for workers in Qatar ahead of World Cup

The International Trade Union Confederation is pushing FIFA to press for changes in Qatari labor laws because it says many migrant workers will be in danger in the extreme heat while building stadiums for the 2022 World Cup.

ITUC Secretary General Sharan Burrow said in a Sep. 20 note to FIFA President Sepp Blatter that "several hundred migrant construction workers die each year in Qatar" where they often work in extreme heat.

ITUC wants FIFA to discuss the issue at its executive committee meeting next Thursday and Friday. The meeting will cover other World Cup issues, including switching the tournament from summer to winter.