Workers groups call on FIFA sponsors to act on Qatar conditions - Coca-Cola, Visa respond
Activists are calling on FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola, Adidas, Visa, Kia, Hyundai, McDonald s, Gazprom, and Budweiser to challenge alleged human-rights abuses at construction sites for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The petition is led by International Trade Union Confederation, the Trade Union Congress, Skins sportswear, and the New FIFA Now group.
So far, Coca-Cola and Visa have issued statements in response to the campaign.
Coca-Cola statement as reported by PR Week:
The Coca-Cola Company does not condone human rights abuses anywhere in the world. We know FIFA is working with Qatari authorities to address specific labor and human-rights issues. We expect FIFA to continue taking these matters seriously and to work toward further progress.
Event brings together students, alumni to discuss workers’ rights
The School of Labor and Employment Relations welcomed back two alumni of the Labor and Global Workers’ Rights program Bashiratu Kamal (bottom right) and Jafar Iqbal (top left) as keynote speakers for the school’s annual Alumni/Student Forum. Also pictured are Mark Anner, LGWR founding director (top right), and Manuel Rosaldo, LGWR faculty and event facilitator (bottom left).
Image: Penn State
Event brings together students, alumni to discuss workers’ rights
May 13, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Every spring, students, faculty and alumni from the School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) meet to network and discuss current issues in the fields of labor, employment relations and human resources. The popular alumni/student forum is sponsored by the School of LER’s Alumni Board of Directors.
YORKSHIRE Water is taking on 75 young people as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme. Under the initiative, the 16-to-25-year-olds will be offered roles across the business – in fields ranging from customer experience to flood resilience. Support will be provided by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and unions, which will offer monthly sessions to help with challenges faced in a return-to-work situation or with first-time employment – plus career workshops and CV support. On completion of the six-month programme, participants will be helped to find a permanent role – either within the company or elsewhere. “This scheme has allowed us to open additional vacancies and provide opportunities to people that might not have crossed our path otherwise,” said Jenni Morris, for Yorkshire Water.
President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has advised government to focus on reducing salaries of political office holders not workers, in its move to bring down the cost of governance.
In a statement, yesterday, TUC said it had become imperative for government to reduce the cost of governance but it must be done the right way.
President and Secretary General of TUC, Quadri Olaleye and Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said time had come for the take home of political office holders to be significantly reduced, claiming that the country was paying them for nothing.
According to the labour union, it is preposterous, wicked and ungodly for the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to come up with the idea of reducing salaries at a time the country is still grappling with the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with millions of Nigerians rendered jobless and N30, 000 minimum wage which has been rubbished by the high rate of inflation.