What Is Kafala System That Turns Millions Of Indian Workers Into Modern-Day Slaves In Gulf | India News
In 2017, a nurse from Karnataka came to Saudi Arabia with the promise of a monthly salary of Rs 25,000. Instead, he fell victim to trafficking and slavery under the infamous kafala system; He endured hunger, brutal labor, and threats of violence. The freedom struggle, which lasted for months, ended only with the intervention of Indian authorities. This case revealed the harsh realities faced by millions of migrant workers dependent on kafala, a decades-old sponsorship system.
Recently, Saudi Arabia took a historic step by eliminating the kafala system that had controlled migrant workers for more than 50 years. This reform affects approximately 13 million foreign workers in the Kingdom, including 2.5 million Indians who form a significant part of the Saudi workforce. While the move was a breakthrough, kafala remains present in many Gulf states, trapping nearly 24 million workers under similar restrictions.
What is the Kafala System?
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Kafala, which means “sponsorship” in Arabic, was introduced in the 1950s to regulate the flow of foreign labor during the Gulf oil boom. Under this system, a migrant worker’s legal status depends on a single employer, known as the kafala system, also called cafeel, who controls their visa, employment, and even ability to leave the country. Workers are effectively powerless; They are forced to change jobs, travel abroad, or rely on their sponsors to ask for help.
Originally intended to protect local jobs and provide a reliable workforce, the system instead subjected workers to exploitation and abuse. In Saudi Arabia, where about 40 percent of the population is immigrant, kafala has particularly affected low-wage workers in sectors such as construction, domestic work, hospitality and cleaning. Many Indians, as well as workers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines and Ethiopia, suffered under these conditions.
How Did Kafala Enable Slavery?
By giving employers unchecked power, Kafala opened the door to serious abuses such as withholding wages, confiscation of passports, forced labor, excessive working hours, and even physical and sexual violence. Many workers found themselves isolated and without legal recourse.
The case of Haseena Begum, a nurse from Karnataka, is a striking example of this. He was promised a high salary and was subjected to brutal treatment by his cager, including being kicked out of the building and beaten at the police station. However, he secured his release after diplomatic intervention.
Similarly, Mahavir Yadav, a building painter who moved to Saudi Arabia in 2010, died in 2016 after years of abuse and neglect by his employer, who deducted his salary and confiscated his passport, leaving him defenseless.
These are not isolated incidents. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Labor Organization report thousands of such cases every year. The Kafala system meets the International Labor Organization’s definition of forced labor, work performed under threat and without consent.
Why Did Saudi Arabia End Kafala?
On October 14, 2025, Saudi Arabia officially abolished the kafala system. This decision was prompted by growing international criticism, as well as the Kingdom’s desire to reform its economy and image under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030. The new laws allow workers to freely change jobs, leave the country without the employer’s permission, and have direct access to labor courts.
This reform is expected to greatly improve conditions for millions of immigrants, including India’s large workforce, by providing legal protections that were previously denied to them. But experts warn that repealing the law on paper is only the first step; Real change depends on effective sanctions and the elimination of entrenched abuses.
What’s Next for the Gulf?
While Saudi Arabia’s move is a turning point, other Gulf countries continue to implement variations of the kafala system, putting millions of people at risk. Qatar has made partial reforms ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and countries such as the UAE and Bahrain have made limited changes, but the system remains largely intact.
For millions of migrant workers, many of whom come from India, the kafala system has been a source of hardship and injustice. The repeal of this law in Saudi Arabia offers hope, but the broader fight for fair treatment and dignity across the Gulf is far from over.
