This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
Qatar's 2022 World Cup organisers are set to lay off an undisclosed number of staff as the country cuts costs amid the coronavirus economic downturn, several sources have revealed.
According to sources, the job losses follow similar redundancies at state-run organisations including Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Airways.
The Supreme Committee, the government body organising the tournament, directly employs 550 people, both Qataris and expats, but oversees the work of tens of thousands of contractors.
On July 7, 2020, the Supreme Committee undertook an internal exercise to assess its workforce and engaged in a budget management and operational efficiency exercise.
While the committee did not confirm the number of posts to be lost or the projected savings, it stated that all due salary and end of service benefits would be paid to those leaving, in line with Qatari labour laws.
Despite the impact of coronavirus on construction work, slowing progress to permit social distancing, officials insist preparations are ahead of schedule, with 85 percent of all tournament infrastructure now complete.
However, the country has been hit hard by the pandemic, with over 100,000 cases and one of the world's highest per capita infection rates.
Qatar-based broadcaster BeIN will shed around 100 jobs and cut some salaries in response to the virus downturn, while Qatar Airways will slash some pilot pay by as much as a quarter.
