A groundbreaking reform in Saudi Arabia has officially dismantled the decades-old kafala system, a sponsorship program that has legally bound millions of migrant workers to employers, often leading to exploitation akin to modern-day slavery. This move significantly impacts approximately 2.5 million Indian nationals working in the Kingdom, who constitute a substantial segment of the foreign labor force. The kafala system, deeply entrenched since the 1950s oil boom, tied a worker’s visa and legal status directly to their sponsor, limiting their freedom to change jobs, travel, or seek legal recourse. While Saudi Arabia’s decision offers a beacon of hope, the kafala’s shadow still looms over millions in other Gulf nations. Reports of withheld wages, confiscated passports, forced labor, and severe abuse have been widespread, with international organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting countless cases. The harrowing experiences of workers like Haseena Begum, a nurse subjected to extreme mistreatment, and Mahavir Yadav, a painter who died due to neglect, underscore the system’s devastating human cost. The abolition, driven by international pressure and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms, now allows workers freedom to change employers and exit the country without prior consent. However, the true measure of success will lie in the effective enforcement of these new regulations and the eradication of deeply rooted exploitative practices across the entire Gulf region.
