6,500 Migrant Workers Died Due To The Qatar World Cup Project, This Is The Attitude Of The Dutch National Team

Netherlands national team head coach Frank de Boer (right) leads a training session at Zeist (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Dutch national team wants to raise awareness of the issue of human rights violations against migrant workers in Qatar, but rejects the boycott of the World Cup 2022 finals to be held in the Middle East.

The Netherlands, who are in Group G of the European zone qualifying phase, will start their struggle with a trip to Turkey on Wednesday local time.

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has stated the issue of exploitation of migrant workers in Qatar but ensures that it will not take a boycott.

"Attention now is on whether we will still go there if we qualify", Netherlands head coach Frank de Boer told a news conference as reported by Antara from Reuters, Tuesday night.

"Raising the question is the right step ... Everyone knows what happened there is not good. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also said that by staying there, we can campaign on this issue more vocally", he added.

After years of pressure by various human rights groups, Qatar recently amended its labor regulations to partially abolish the 'kafala' sponsorship system, eliminating the obligation of workers to seek permission from employers' employers if they wish to change jobs or leave Qatar.

Qatar also increased 25 percent of the monthly minimum wage to 1,000 riyals (approx. IDR 3.9 million) which applies to all workers, not just residents.

Last month the British daily The Guardian reported that at least 6,500 migrant workers - mostly linked to World Cup projects - have died in Qatar since the country won its bid to host 10 years ago, according to their own calculations based on official government records.

The Dutch government earlier this month suspended a trade mission to Qatar, citing concerns over migrant worker issues related to preparations for the World Cup.

The Dutch captain, Georginio Wijnaldum, admitted that he and his colleagues had discussed the issue.

"This is clearly a big topic, but we all believe that we should still go there if we qualify. There we can have a bigger impact on the intended changes", he said.