Doha: Qatar said Thursday it will introduce a major labour law reform to ensure thousands of workers building venues for the 2022 World Cup are paid on time, after complaints by rights groups.

The changes by the future hosts of football’s biggest tournament, approved by Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, will see workers get paid at least once a month and in some cases every fortnight.

The move could head off some criticism of Qatar which has come under mounting international pressure to improve conditions for migrant labourers working on projects for the World Cup.

The announcement comes before the international spotlight is bound to fall on Qatar again as FIFA officials visit Doha early next week to finalise a date for the controversial tournament.