Kickoff for Decent Work

Yesterday (July 8) the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI), the global confederation of construction unions, opened a crucial International Trade Union Conference: Work and Sport in Mexico City. 

The conference runs from July 8-9, with over 70 trade union representatives from 14 countries across Latin America, Europe, and beyond coming together with a clear goal – to champion decent work on construction sites for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico.

Raimundo Ribeiro Santos Filho, President of the BWI Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the urgent need for this conference. 

“We’re here to ensure decent, safe, and fair working conditions on all construction projects linked to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico,” he stated. 

He acknowledged the significant challenges facing Mexico’s construction sector, including high labor informality, low unionization, and dangerous working conditions.

The BWI is advocating for a holistic approach that goes beyond the sporting event itself. The aim is for the World Cup’s benefits to extend past the spectacle and leave a real legacy for workers and communities.

Ribeiro Santos Filho stated, “Sport can be a spectacle, but it can also be transformation. Infrastructure can be cement, but it can also be built with dignity. And trade unionism, when articulated with vision and commitment, can be a bridge between rights and the future.”

Gail Cartmail, BWI Global Deputy President, emphasized that, “football, and all mega-sporting events, must respect the rights of those who build the stadiums, transport systems, hotels, and infrastructure that make these events possible.” 

For nearly 20 years, BWI has been campaigning to ensure that decent work is a core part of the legacy of every World Cup and Olympic Games.

“Two decades ago, there was little awareness of labor rights in the context of mega-sporting events. BWI was among the first to say clearly: no decent play without decent work,” Cartmail noted. 

Through relentless organizing and engagement with global actors like FIFA and the ILO, perceptions have shifted. Today, there’s a greater expectation for respect for human and labor rights, especially for migrant workers who are often invisible but crucial to building this infrastructure.

The BWI said that this conference is not just about 2026. It’s about building stronger unions, safer workplaces, fairer contracts, and dignity for all workers long after the final whistle. 

As preparations for the 2026 World Cup across Mexico, the US, and Canada continue, this global movement is gaining momentum. 

Looking ahead, especially to future World Cups like Saudi Arabia 2034, it’s clear that stronger global solidarity and aligned activities across regions will be essential to ensure that decent work is always a champion.

As a member of the BWI Unite has supported previous campaigns to ensure that workers rights are respected, and good health and safety practices put in place during the construction of World Cup facilities. 

Unite has partnered with the BWI on a number of initiatives including sustainable skills and the “Stop deadly dust” silica campaign and led the way across the UK in standing in solidarity with migrant workers ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – and will do so again as construction continues ahead of the 2026 event in Mexico.

No World Cup without workers’ rights!

By Keith Hatch