The Dutch government said on Wednesday that it would send a delegation to the World Cup in Qatar in November, despite a legislative resolution asking it not to do so because of worries over how the Gulf state treats migrant workers. Check out the complete details about it below.
The Dutch government will send an official team to the Qatar World Cup
Human rights organisations have focused a great deal of attention on the migrant issue in Qatar in the lead-up to the tournament, which begins on Nov. 20 and boasts a population of 2.8 million people who are mostly migrant workers and foreigners. Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Sports Minister Conny Helder of the Netherlands wrote to parliament in a joint statement that “the cabinet plans to deploy a government delegation, as usual during important sporting events.”
According to the statement, “We prefer cooperation with Qatar with a view to sustainable change” because they believed that remaining neutral would “limit the possibilities for conversation and cooperation.”
In light of the country’s labour laws and human rights record, a motion passed by the parliament last year asked the government to refrain from sending an official delegation to the Qatar Games. The World Cup has given Qatar the opportunity to advance concerns relating to workers’ rights, according to a member of the World Cup organising committee who stated last week that the country admits flaws in its labour system.
A 2021 Amnesty International allegation that thousands of migrant labourers were still being exploited was earlier refuted by the Qatari government.
Who will be included in the formal Dutch delegation was not immediately known. The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, who frequently visits significant athletic events, was not specifically disallowed by the letter.
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