Saudi Arabia Abolishes Kafala System in Historic Labour Reform #saudiarabia #alhabib #usa

As one recent article says: “Saudi Arabia has officially abolished its decades-old Kafala system, ending a controversial sponsorship framework”.” “First, let’s understand what the Kafala system was. The Kafala, or sponsorship system, “defines the relationship between foreign workers and their local sponsor, or kafeel” — usually the employer. Under that regime, the legal work-permit and residency status of a migrant worker was tied to the employer, who had control over job-moves, exits, and even whether the worker could change employer. Because of that control, many abuses arose: passport confiscation, blocked job change, forced overtime, restricted travel — critics even called it “modern-day slavery”. For example: one source notes that under Kafala, workers “typically cannot leave or change jobs … leave the country without the employer’s approval” and that “workers who do leave risk being arrested and deported” under absconding charges. Now: when and why did Saudi Arabia decide to end it? Over recent years, Saudi Arabia signalled reform. In March 2021, reforms let migrant workers change jobs without employer’s permission, and drop some exit-permit requirements. But, many said those reforms didn’t go far enough — domestic workers and other vulnerable workers remained excluded. The landmark announcement came in June 2025, and by October the abolition was widely reported: “Saudi Arabia abolishes its 50-year-old Kafala system … the removal is set to liberate millions of foreign workers.” Close to 13 million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are expected to be affected, many from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, among other countries. What does the new system entail? Migrant workers will now have the freedom to change jobs without needing employer permission, exit and re-enter the country without a sponsor’s exit visa in many cases, and sign enforceable contracts — shifting from sponsor-based power to a contractual employment model. “In short: the end of the Kafala system in Saudi Arabia marks a major turning-point in migrant labour rights in the Gulf region. But it’s also a moment to watch: legal change is important, yet real improvement will depend on implementation, enforcement and making sure the most vulnerable workers are protected. As one human-rights group warned: reforms must “fully tackle the core features of the abusive Kafala system that leave workers wholly dependent on their employers.”    / @therastranews     / therastra     / the.rastra   https://x.com/therastranews