Qatar must make "additional progress" on improving conditions for the army of nearly two million migrant workers helping the Gulf state prepare for the 2022 World Cup, FIFA has said.

The candid admission from world football's governing body comes after two recent reports into the slow pace of change in the oil-and-gas-rich country by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

In a statement released, a FIFA spokesman said it "welcomes the important steps taken in recent months" by Qatar but "we share the view of Amnesty International that additional progress is needed for the full implementation of the commitments for comprehensive labour reform".

The spokesman added that the Qataris are "working intensely" with the International Labour Organisation and others to improve matters and said FIFA "continues to engage" with the local organising committee to "ensure respect for the rights of workers who are involved in World Cup-related activities".

... Middle East labour law expert Nicholas McGeehan believes FIFA has failed to use its leverage to demand quicker and more meaningful changes. "Qatar has promised the earth but the reality is that despite all the noise about their reform process, they have yet to deliver on key reforms that will effectively protect workers," McGeehan said.

"FIFA and other influential actors should be clear about what they expect Qatar to do, and should be demanding a timetable for serious reform of the kafala system, which is as entrenched as it has ever been and remains the central pillar of an extremely abusive labour system."