Ahead of World Cup, Miami labor groups demand worker protections
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A group representing 30 local labor groups demanded more labor protections ahead of the World Cup. Photo: Sommer Brugal/Axios
Labor and civil rights organizations are demanding better worker protections from FIFA and Miami-Dade's World Cup Host Committee in the lead-up to this summer's global event.
Why it matters: Miami-Dade is hosting seven matches this summer at Hard Rock Stadium, for which Miami-Dade municipalities have shelled out about $53 million.
State of play: During a news conference Tuesday, organizers claimed Miami's host committee has failed to uphold human rights, fair labor standards and community protections.
- Speakers said the groups failed to provide a Human Rights Action Plan and hired non-union contractors who use unskilled laborers and don't meet Miami-Dade's minimum-wage standards.
Between the lines: FIFA launched a new protocol to address human rights issues ahead of this year's games, requiring all host committees to develop their own action plans and standards, the Associated Press reported.
- The global organization offered guidelines for local committees to follow that touched on public safety concerns, workers' rights — including migrant workers — and fair wages.
What they're saying: "Our proposals have been met in a patronizing way, with little consideration and no transparency or reciprocity," said Jonathan Alingu, co-executive director of Central Florida Jobs with Justice.
- "Without strong labor standards, the World Cup doesn't create opportunities, but [instead creates] a shadow economy," said Katherine Passley, co-executive director for Beyond the Bars.
Meanwhile, immigrant rights organizations have called on FIFA to support a moratorium on ICE arrests and detention transfers during the games and for local governments to suspend their 287(g) agreements.
The other side: "We have met with them multiple times [and] in very good faith," Alina Hudak, president and CEO of the Miami World Cup host committee and former deputy mayor for Miami-Dade County, told Axios.
- "There's been very deliberate work on the part of the host committee for the purposes of protecting against and fighting human trafficking and the things that we can add value to," she said.
Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the Miami World Cup host committee executive committee, told Axios that the committee has been transparent with its bidding and procurement.
- "But some of these things are out of our control. We have nothing to do with ICE, that's a federal government role."
A spokesperson for FIFA told Axios that Miami-Dade isn't late in publishing its plan, as those are "being published on a rolling basis."
- Moreover, reps said FIFA's human rights policies and labor standards "set clear expectations for suppliers, service providers and Host City Committees."
Zoom out: Calls for fair practices are happening across the country, too, with threats to strike from labor groups in Los Angeles.
- A hospitality union called for local leaders to abide by fair working practices and on FIFA to publicly denounce ICE's presence during the tournament, per the Guardian.
What's next: The World Cup kicks off June 11. The first match in Miami is June 15.
Axios reporter Martin Vassolo contributed to this report.
Editor's note: This story was updated to add comments from FIFA.