Abolition of Kafala in Saudi Arabia: Impact on Indian Migrant Workers

  Abolition of Kafala in Saudi Arabia: Impact on the Indian Migrant Workers   By Satyendra Singh The abolition of the Kafala System in Saudi Arabia in June 2025 has been an evolutionary step in the direction of reforming the Labour Ecosystem prevailing in the nation. The step marks an incredible advance towards pragmatic policymaking on the issue of Labour Welfare. It is pertinent to note that all the series of reforms undertaken are the result of massive protests by the employee community due to excessively exploitative tendencies in organising and treating labour in the workplace. International pressure due to non-alignment with ILO Conventions and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s VISION 2030 are the other driving forces for the reform. The fact that Saudi Arabia and its association with Kafala treads a long past is itself a fact to be looked at in-depth, as the strategic evolution from Sponsor-based to Contract-based nature of employment is the biggest ever ...