FIFA and BWI in a historic partnership to promote Safe Working Conditions

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) have inked a landmark agreement aimed at ensuring decent and safe working conditions for workers involved in FIFA tournaments.

This collaboration, which commenced over a decade ago, has now been formalized into a lasting platform for dialogue, monitoring, prevention, and remedy.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

-Joint Labour Inspections: BWI and FIFA will conduct joint inspections of FIFA World Cup and other tournament-related worksites, ensuring worker confidentiality and protection from retaliation.

-Training and Capacity Building: The two organizations will engage in training and capacity building for workers’ representatives, grievance handling, and occupational health and safety.

-Corrective Action and Remedy: When adverse impacts are identified, FIFA will engage with relevant third parties to secure a time-bound corrective action plan, which both organizations will assess and follow up until resolution.

-Annual Joint Reports: BWI and FIFA will publish annual joint summary reports, identifying progress, lessons, and remaining challenges.

Ambet Yuson, General Secretary of BWI said, “This agreement builds on years of experience and critical partnership.

It provides a clear process not only to monitor but also to prevent and remedy abuses, ensuring that commitments to human rights translate into concrete improvements for workers.”

Meanwhile, Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General highlited the importance of the partnership stating that, “Like Building and Wood Workers’ International, FIFA takes workers’ rights very seriously.

It is essential that all workers involved in projects connected to FIFA tournaments enjoy good working conditions, a fair income, safety in the workplace, social protection and integration.”

This partnership will be implemented across diverse political and industrial contexts, including upcoming FIFA tournaments in Canada, Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, North and Central America, and Saudi Arabia.

By working together, FIFA and BWI aim to ensure that workers’ rights are respected throughout the relevant supply chains.