As preparations for Qatar 2022 intensifies, it is believed that FIFA will generate £3 billion from the World Cup, while over 6,500 migrant workers have lost their lives in the Middle Eastern state since they were awarded the hosting right, The Guardian reports.
The migrant workers comprised of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are believed to have died.
Qatar’s estimates shows that just 37 workers have died on the construction of World Cup stadiums, but according to human rights groups, the country keeps limited records and does not investigate deaths.
Qatar won the right to host 10 years ago and since the period till date, seven new stadiums, an airport, roads, public transport systems including a metro, hotels and a new city, have been built or under construction at a cost estimated to be as high as £138 billion.
While FIFA eyes profits, which are expected to exceed £1.1 billion in 2022, the workers who have been preparing for the competition, which kicks off on November 21, have suffered.
Migrant labour makes up 95% of the workforce on the World Cup sites and those working in the Middle Eastern state earn a minimum wage of £200-a-month.
The labourers are also believed to go months without pay, sometimes are not paid at all and live in abject poverty, campaigners say.
Meanwhile, FIFA is reportedly anticipating revenues from broadcasting rights of more than £1.9 billion and almost £1 billion from marketing rights in 2022.
In addition, ticket sales and hospitality for the World Cup will be £360 million.
In sharp contrast to earlier claims made on the welfare of workers, FIFA and Qatar government insist that good progress have been made to safe guard their rights.
“Since the FIFA World Cup 2022 was awarded to Qatar, there has been a major collective effort from the local authorities, our partner the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy [a government body] and the International Labour Organisation to bring about positive change.
“And we are really pleased to see that this has materialised into concrete major progress in the area of workers’ rights, said Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President.
