Fifa has signed a five-year partnership with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) to improve labour conditions at World Cup and tournament sites. The agreement aims to ensure “decent and safe working conditions” through joint inspections, worker training, and corrective action plans for cases of exploitation.
The BWI, which has previously criticised Fifa over its decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, will help monitor labour standards in the Gulf state and other host nations. Both organisations collaborated during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, introducing worker training and inspection programmes that led to some improvements, though the BWI later condemned Fifa for not pursuing deeper reforms.
Ambet Yuson, BWI’s general secretary, said the new deal was built on “years of experience and critical partnership” and would provide “a clear process to monitor, prevent and remedy abuses.”
Fifa’s secretary general, Mattias Grafström, said the organisation was committed to ensuring “good working conditions, fair pay, safety, and social protection” for all workers involved in tournament infrastructure.
The agreement includes four key measures:
- Joint inspections of stadiums and work sites.
- Training for worker representatives in health and safety.
- A “time-bound corrective action plan” to address abuses.
- Annual progress reports published through Fifa’s Human Rights and Sustainability sub-committee.
The partnership will apply to all 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 six nations, and the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
