The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and FIFA have signed a five-year cooperation agreement to strengthen labour rights and safety standards for workers involved in the construction and renovation of infrastructure tied to FIFA tournaments.
The agreement, signed by BWI President Per-Olof Sjöö and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström during BWI’s 20th anniversary, runs until 2030 and establishes a formal framework for collaboration, including:
Joint labour inspections at FIFA World Cup and other tournament worksites, with worker protection and confidentiality in line with ILO standards.
Training and capacity building for workers’ representatives on safety, grievance handling, and labour rights.
Corrective actions and remedies to address identified labour violations through monitored action plans.
Annual joint reporting on progress, lessons learned, and remaining challenges through FIFA’s Human Rights and Sustainability Sub-Committee.
The new accord builds on more than a decade of cooperation between FIFA and BWI, particularly the partnership developed during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where inspections and dialogue improved occupational safety and grievance mechanisms.
Looking ahead to upcoming tournaments in North America (2026, 2031), Brazil (2027), Morocco–Portugal–Spain–South America (2030), and Saudi Arabia (2034), the agreement provides a consistent framework for ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for workers’ rights across varied global contexts.
“This agreement provides a clear process not only to monitor but also to prevent and remedy abuses,” said Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary.
“It is essential that all workers involved in projects connected to FIFA tournaments enjoy good working conditions and fair treatment,” added Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General.
