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Banu and Beauty before going out to sell lunch boxes on March 11, 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dhrubotara, which means “the star never stops sparkling”, is a catering company founded by female Saudi-returnee workers who were abused by their Saudi employers and returned to Bangladesh with little or none of their wages. Photo Credit: Allison Joyce / Stringer.
Saudi Arabia has formally abolished the kafala sponsorship system, which is a move that could reshape labour rights across the Gulf.
This reform, part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, introduces new freedoms for over 13 million migrant workers and signals growing momentum toward fairer, more transparent employment standards.
The kafala (sponsorship) system, established in the 1950s, tied workers’ legal status to their employers, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Migrant workers faced restrictions on movement, withheld wages, and limited recourse under the law.
By dismantling this system, Saudi Arabia is increasingly aligning its labour framework with international human rights standards.
The reform replaces the sponsorship model with a modern, contract-based employment system. Under the new rules, migrant workers can:
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