LABOUR demanded an investigation yesterday into the death of a British worker on a Qatar World Cup stadium site.

The 40-year-old man has not been named, nor have any details of the incident been released, with World Cup organisers saying only that he “lost his life working” on Thursday at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Labour’s shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan demanded an invesitgation into the man’s death and action to keep all World Cup construction workers safe.

“It is unacceptable that basic health and safety precautions are not being followed,” she told the Star.

“Fifa and the Qatari authorities should not be putting profit before safety.

“Fifa president Gianni Infantino needs to show where his priorities lie, launch an urgent investigation and ensure everything is done to protect workers.”

An ITUC spokesperson warned that an investigation is “impossible” under the current kafala system, which has been likened to modern-day slavery and sees workers forced to pay recruitment fees, have their passports confiscated, go unpaid and toil in dangerous conditions.

Despite it being abolished last year, the ITUC told the Star at the time that the changers were “just new labels for old laws, perpetuating modern slavery.”

The ITUC said: “Our thoughts are with the family who have lost their loved one in tragic circumstances and with the families of all the workers who have lost their lives, wherever they come from.

“This tragedy, and indeed all work-related fatalities and injuries, must be subject to full and credible investigation and the lessons learnt must be put into action.

“Sadly, this is nigh impossible under the repressive kafala system that still exists in Qatar.

“Companies too must accept responsibility for their entire operations and supply chains, even when the authorities refuse to meet their obligations under international law.”

The latest death yet again highlights the deplorable working conditions workers are forced to build the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup.

About 1,200 migrant workers have lost their lives building the facilities.

Amnesty International global director James Lynch also demanded a full investigation.

Lynch said: “This is the second death at a stadium related to a workplace incident in three months that Qatar’s World Cup committee has informed us about.

“It’s essential that the ongoing investigation identifies what safety measures were in place at the stadium and whether they were adequate and that the family in particular is kept fully informed of the investigation’s progress and findings.”

Qatar’s authorities ludicrously claim that the World Cup sites have a good record for worker safety.

Playfair Qatar’s campaign co-ordinator and TUC policy officer Stephen Russell said the Gulf nation refuses to respect workers’ basic human rights.

“While foreign workers in Qatar are denied the right to walk away from dangerous work, people will continue to die,” he told the Star.

“Qatar must grant basic human rights to everyone to have a chance of preventing further tragedies, yet they still refuse to do so.”

British construction union Unite acting general secretary Gail Cartmail joined calls for justice.

“This tragedy is not an isolated incident and we demand that the Qatari authorities carry out an immediate full and transparent investigation.

“This tragedy shows how long overdue such work is and how important it can be. Unite’s priority will always be the health safety and wellbeing of our sisters and brothers employed in Qatar.”

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