Saudi Arabia Abolishes Kafala Labour System: Impact on 2.3 Million Indian Workers

Oct 22, 2025 08:28 pm CST

Saudi Arabia has officially ended the controversial kafala labour sponsorship system, often described as 'modern-day slavery,' which affected 2.3 million Indians. This significant reform, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 initiative, liberates approximately 13 million foreign workers from a system that granted employers extraordinary control over workers' lives, including their ability to change jobs or leave the country.