Yvette van Eechoud and senior executives of selected Dutch companies operating in Qatar meeting with officials of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).

Netherlands ambassador Yvette van Eechoud, along with senior executives of selected Dutch companies operating in Qatar, visited the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), this week.
They met with SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi, and were briefed on the progress achieved to date towards the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, as well as engaging in a productive discussion on progress made on the SC workers’ welfare standards.
“The Dutch government and companies are committed to very high standards on corporate social responsibility,” said the ambassador, adding: “We need to make sure that those standards are being maintained at all times. That is why this meeting is crucial to understand the challenges and to tackle them together.”
“Workers’ welfare is something that we really care about a lot and we are here to work together with the Supreme Committee on the implementation of these standards,” said Goerge Brax of Philips Qatar,
one of the participants.
A wide range of companies from the Netherlands were present at the meeting during which a productive discussion took place on the implementation of workers’ welfare standards, the challenges and lessons learned in Qatar and the business opportunities available for Dutch
companies.
“For me the workers’ welfare standards of the SC are very clear, it is a clear booklet which describes the standards for living conditions, food, travel, contracts, it is a standard which is a part of our tender,” explained Steven Wilbrenninck, of
BAM International.
The Dutch company has constructed important FIFA World Cup stadiums in the past in South Africa and Germany, and is looking to bring its experience to
Qatar.
“When we submit a bid we have to comply with these standards. I think it is a high-level standard which is written very clearly, and everybody has to fulfill it. It is not rocket science to improve, it is a matter of discipline, attention, checking and control,” he said.
“I have been on the construction site of the Al Wakrah Stadium and it has very high safety standards, it means that it has been possible to raise the standards massively. Today we were here with the Dutch delegation and the embassy, and we will support the SC on their workers welfare
strategy,” he added.