Saudi Arabia Abolishes Kafala System, Freeing 2.3 Million Indians

Saudi Arabia has abolished the notorious kafala labour sponsorship system, a 50-year-old framework criticized as "modern-day slavery." The system granted employers, known as kafeels, excessive control over migrant workers, including the power to confiscate passports, restrict job changes, and even prevent workers from leaving the country. For many, this led to dire situations, such as that of Jacintha Mendonca, a nurse from Karnataka trafficked to Saudi in 2016 and held for a Rs 4.3 lakh ransom until diplomatic intervention secured her release.

The kafala system, introduced in the 1950s to regulate foreign labour from India and Southeast Asia, was pivotal in building Saudi Arabia’s economy, particularly in construction and manufacturing. However, it tethered workers to their kafeel, who could dictate their employment, wages, and living conditions. The system was particularly harsh on unskilled workers, with documented cases of abuse, including sexual exploitation and physical violence. In 2017, a Gujarat woman endured sexual slavery, while another from Karnataka was thrown from a building in Dammam after being lured with false job promises. Rights groups like Amnesty International have highlighted thousands of similar cases involving workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and beyond.

The decision to scrap kafala aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, a reform agenda to modernize Saudi Arabia’s image and attract foreign investment ahead of events like the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The move benefits approximately 13 million foreign workers, including 2.5 million Indians, part of the 7.5 million Indian diaspora across Gulf nations where variations of kafala persist in countries like Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, and Qatar.

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International pressure, coupled with reports from organizations like the International Labour Organization, which accused Gulf nations of enabling human trafficking under kafala, played a significant role in its abolition. As Saudi Arabia pivots toward global ambitions, this reform marks a critical step in addressing decades of human rights concerns and improving conditions for millions of migrant workers.

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