Fifa joins with trade union to promote ‘safe working conditions’

FIFA has announced a five-year partnership with the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) trade union to promote "decent and safe working conditions" at its tournaments. This agreement includes joint labor inspections in Saudi Arabia and other locations, training for workers and their representatives, and the implementation of a "time-bound corrective action plan" to address and remedy cases of worker exploitation or impact.

Despite this collaboration, BWI has heavily criticized FIFA for awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, with its general secretary, Ambet Yuson, accusing FIFA of conducting a bidding process "without any robust assessment" and warning of a potential "permanent stain in the world of sport." BWI also expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA's failure to implement further changes in Qatar, where they had previously worked together to improve labor standards during the 2022 World Cup.

The key elements of the FIFA-BWI agreement involve joint labor inspections at stadiums and related worksites, training programs for workers' representatives and occupational health and safety, the establishment of a corrective action plan with remedies for abuses, and the publication of annual progress reports through FIFA's human rights and sustainability sub-committee. Both parties emphasized the importance of translating human rights commitments into tangible improvements for workers.

The partnership will cover several upcoming FIFA tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US; the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil; the 2030 men's World Cup across Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay; the 2031 Women's World Cup in Mexico, the US, Jamaica, and Costa Rica; and the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.