FIFA, trade unions to work on Qatar labor issues

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says working conditions for migrant laborers building 2022 World Cup projects in Qatar are “unacceptable.”

FIFA says Blatter and International Trade Union Confederation president Michael Sommer agreed that “fair working conditions must be introduced quickly, consistently and on a sustained basis in Qatar.”

Qatar has been criticized about pay, labor and housing conditions in reports by the United Nations and Amnesty International.

Blatter says “economic and political leaders must contribute to improving the unacceptable situation in Qatar.”

Previously, he said the issue is “not FIFA’s primary responsibility, but we cannot turn a blind eye.”

FIFA says executive committee member Theo Zwanziger of Germany will work with the ITUC and human rights and labor organizations.