UN labour agency presses FIFA for more role on 2022 World Cup hosts

After fierce criticism of the Qatar World Cup, the head of the UN labour agency on Sunday pressed FIFA's president for a greater role in scrutinizing future World Cup hosts.

Before meeting with Gianni Infantino, International Labour Organisation director general Gilbert Houngbo told AFP that Qatar has made significant progress but more needs to be done for its migrant labourers.

In an interview, Houngbo said that the ILO is looking for a role carrying out due diligence on future candidate countries.

After years of criticism of labor rights in Qatar, FIFA has faced increased pressure, ranging from deaths on mega construction projects to unpaid salaries to working in the Gulf state's fierce summer heat.

Houngbo said after the meeting that talks on a memorandum of understanding with the ILO were not yet complete and that FIFA is very determined to make sure that the social question, including the question of respect for work and particularly health and safety at work, is one of the key questions in the decision.