The tiny Gulf state has come under fire for what rights groups describe as poor labor conditions. Doha has responded by enacting a broad reform program in which it has scrapped exit permits for most workers, established a minimum wage and launched dispute committees to hear worker grievances.
"There has been some small improvement but generally we've found there's been a real lack of progress and workers are paying the price," said Amnesty International's Deputy Director of Global Issues, Stephen Cockburn.
In a report last week Amnesty documented the cases of about 2,000 workers unable to recover unpaid wages, despite the dispute committees and a fund established to pay them back, with many forced to return home unpaid.
"We do believe that the bodies like FIFA sponsors and others and national football associations all have a role in highlighting these issues, in speaking out and to try and encourage and pressure the Qatar authorities to do what it said it would do," Cockburn said.Qatar said in a statement responding to Amnesty's report that it was working to make sure its reforms are "far-reaching and effective" and that "any issues or delays with our systems will be addressed comprehensively."