Workers Reportedly Walk Out on World Cup Stadium after Safety Issues

Local news reports in Brazil have suggested construction workers have left their jobs at the World Cup stadium, Arena Amazones in the city of Manaus after a worker fell 115 feet to his death.

A construction worker died at the site on Saturday, prompting a labour court to order a halt to all work being conducted high above ground until they were satisfied that conditions are safe.

The G1 Internet portal said the stoppage has brought all work on the stadium to a halt.

The G1 report cited a labor union representing construction workers as saying the stadium’s estimated 1,800 workers walked off the job early Monday to protest safety conditions and what they described as pressure to speed up the project. Amazonas state government officials have denied applying pressure to accelerate the work.

England are set to kick off their Group D campaign at the stadium on June 14 against Italy and the tragedy is the latest in a series of setbacks for organisers.

The venue will also host three other matches including Cameroon/Croatia, USA/Portugal and Honduras/Switzerland.

The death in Manaus brings the number of workers killed during construction of World Cup venues to five, including two who died last month when a crane collapsed at the Itaquera Arena in Sao Paulo, which is to hold the opening ceremony and first match of the finals between Brazil and Croatia.