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

  Kafala Reform During the Gulf War and its Impact on Indian Migrant Workers    Kafala as a practice stems from its roots in the traditional worker hiring patterns pre-established since the 1970s era of the Oil Boom, when the major Gulf economies were largely dependent on oil for their economic sustenance and thereby requiring the hiring of workers not only from local premises but also from abroad, including South and Southeast Asia. Though the nature of employment remained disguised, leading to transparency woes from the perspective of the employee. Saudi Arabia abolished the Kafala system in June 2025, which could be seen as a landmark reform towards decent work under Vision 2030 of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The recent reforms are going to benefit over 2.6 million Indian migrant workers in the kingdom. The evolution has been from strict contract-based employment, where the workers were completely tied to the employer’s consent for their movement, to more of a...

   Kafala Reform During the Gulf War and Its Impact on Indian Migrant Workers  The war in the Gulf has raised concerns about the migrant workers from other countries in Saudi Arabia and other nations. The recent conflict has led to further issues for workers, as the prolonged war has put pressure on the economies of nations in the Gulf and worldwide. Kafala has impacted the lives of millions of workers and has led to job losses, expatriation, and vacancies for the impacted. The ongoing conflict amongst regional economic players has impacted the Indian workers in industries and other sectors, leading to mass repatriation and the workers returning home due to excessive pressure. Scale off and wage declines are due to the economic pressure the war has brought. The Indian agencies are trying to facilitate safe repatriation for their workers. The Trade declines have impacted the export market for India and other nations in their geo-economics with India. It is to be ensure...