Public opinion is deeply divided on the abolition of the Kafala system, with some expressing optimism for improved migrant workers' rights, while a significant number remain doubtful about the implementation and authenticity of the reform, calling it 'fake news' and questioning its real impact.

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MBS will be for all good or bad reason be forever remembered in Saudi and Middle East history...

Funny-Bit-4148

That's a significantly better way to improve your standing as a country than, say, holding a festival for millionaire comedians.

Important-Factor7819

Abolishing is the easy part.  Actually implementing the law and make it stick will be the hard part and as another user already mentioned, it remain to be seen.

macross1984

BrilliantOk9694

Well this will ease the pain of some people - particularly in the lower paid sectors - to at least get home if they find their employment and lifestyle unpleasant. There are some extreme cases of people being mistreated, and of course there's culture shock and home sickness. 

I only work 6 weeks at a time here and I get those last two, so people on years long contracts will definitely feel it. 

I think the problem will be communicating this change to workers here. A lot of them don't have easy access to the internet and are less likely to read news like this if they do.

So I hope the message gets out there.

The article implies it's the south Asians who are most likely affected, but personally I think domestic helpers - often African or South East Asian women - are perhaps the biggest beneficiaries. 

Often though they live full time with their employer families, and are the ones who won't know these new rights or have easy access to them. 

It not so hard in the retail or transport sectors where a lot of foreign workers go - they at least have time to themselves and if push came to shove an opportunity to get a ticket and leave. 

But domestic helpers get very little time to themselves and often the worst employer families are the ones that restrict knowledge and freedom the most ...

AffectionateCat_

EnergyPolicyQuestion

&gt;The Kafala system, meaning “sponsorship” in Arabic, was introduced in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, in the 1950s. Under this framework, a worker’s legal status was linked to their employer, known as the kafeel, giving employers significant control over their ability to change jobs, leave the country, or access legal recourse. Human rights organizations criticized the system for enabling exploitation, abuse, and conditions described as forced labour.

pqratusa

I have not seen an announcement in Saudi Gazette, so I'm not sure if this is actually official.

ogag79

Wait... they are **now** allowing people to leave the country without permission from their employer?

bruhbelacc

Yeah ill believe it when i stop needing having to ask my boss to approve my exit outside the country on my days off

oss1215

Alternative title, Saudi Arabia to abolish slavery

marian_mina

damn so they just abolished slavery? i thought they did that in 1964 through Kennedy

EwMelanin

I wonder if this is a result of deep seated societal and cultural change or merely a response to international criticism. If it's the latter, I wonder if it could lead to the former.

ADP_God

I have no complaints, they actually have done something positive

OrangeJr36

Spikerazorshards

Kuwait still has it afaik, Qatar only for a few critical people otherwise no

wordsoup

this is very old news. Nothing is abolished except now instead of person name it is company's name written on the residence id card. As well you still need to take permission and request company/owner to even allow you to go for 2 days vacation outside saudi the so called exit reentry permission. So pretty much everything is as it was.

aleeazzy

StudentLeading1177

But isn't it similar to the H1B visa in the USA? I am happy it got abolished though

Enamoure

comeonwhatdidIdo

[deleted]

Great step .. it will surely benefit many people of India who have moved to Saudi Arabia for working

Realistic_Gate_4488

Well now how will they get slaves to build stadiums for the 2034 WC?

CuriousAlbertoss

Took them this long to do something so basic. I wonder what changed, they probably realized they need the brains coming in.

easythrees

This is bullshit. Every couple of years, we read in the Indian newspapers that the kafeel system is abolished and its incorrect.


I don't know if its the incompetency of our Indian media or the intentionally falsify information to create news.


Saudi have just introduced a new system for investors and some special people to obtain a business visa or resident visa that does not require a kafeel.


But, for millions of expat workers in Saudi, nothing changes coz they still under the Kafeel system.

revolution110

This sounds like bullshit. I checked the SPA website and nothing is mentioned there. There is no minister or official person named in the article. I have immediate family there and they would be the first to know and share. No one is reporting this other than TOI or ET.

Sounds like BS.

blaster1988

More like indentured labour rather than slavery in slavery they own your family for gens, here its you for 5 years, i don't know how will saudi and MBS get labour for their grand projects 😉

chachajan

Good news for all Bihari labours working in Saudi
Good luck to everyone

Free-Employment3818

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&gt;Under the new regime, workers can freely change employers without needing approval from their current sponsor, leave the country without an exit visa, and access legal protections that were previously unavailable. 

An exit visa?! Sounds very much like slavery! Why don't they come out and say that they've made it slavery Lite now?

ApunBolaTohBola

Why is it that I don’t see any other outlet reporting this? 

Google search only shows Indian websites.

crasherdgrate

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That’s great news, but I don’t trust the Saudi state with any human rights commitments.

UnlimitedXI

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AmputatorBot

It's old news. They are referencing this article by SPA and rephrasing it to be clickbaity for expats. Always read source thoroughly. Specially since they didn't link source in the article.

[https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2273390](https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2273390)

EllegalAlien

Saudi Arabia has officially abolished the Kafala System, allowing migrant workers more freedom in job mobility and rights, aligned with its Vision 2030 initiative.

Saudi Arabia Ends Kafala System for Migrant Workers

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