Tribune News Network
Doha
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has disputed Denmark’s World Cup kit sponsor Hummel’s claims about Qatar's human rights violations.
"We dispute Hummel’s claim that this tournament has cost thousands of people their lives," the Supreme Committee said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement comes after Hummel said it toned down the details on Denmark's World Cup jerseys and also released a black kit.
Rejecting the claims, the Supreme Committee said the sportswear maker was "trivialising" efforts to improve conditions for migrant workers
"...we whole-heartedly reject the trivialising of our genuine commitment to protect the health and safety of the 30,000 workers who built FIFA World Cup stadiums and other tournament projects. That same commitment now extends to 150,000 workers across various tournament services and 40,000 workers in the hospitality sector."
The statement said, "The onus should always be on countries to do more to protect the rights of peoples all over the world, including in Denmark. The SC’s work is recognised by numerous entities within the international human rights community as a model that has accelerated progress and improved lives. Qatar’s reforms are acknowledged by the ILO (International Labour Organisation) and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) as a benchmark in the region. Like every country, progress on these issues is a journey without a finish line, and Qatar is committed to that journey."
Since winning the right to host the FIFA World Cup, the SC said it has worked diligently alongside the Qatari government to ensure that the tournament delivers a lasting social legacy.
"Our commitment to this legacy has contributed to significant reforms to the labour system enacting laws protecting the rights of workers and ensuring improved living conditions for them.
"Through our collaboration with the UEFA Working Group and various other platforms led by FIFA and other independent groups, we have engaged in robust and transparent dialogue with the DBU (Danish Football Association). This dialogue resulted in a better understanding of the progress made, the challenges faced, and the legacy we will deliver beyond 2022.
"We urge the DBU to accurately convey the outcome of their extensive communication and work with the SC, and to ensure that this is accurately communicated to their partners at Hummel."