Saudi Arabia abolishes Kafala System after 50 years; grants freedom and new rights to millions of migrant workers

Saudi Arabia has officially dismantled its 50-year-old Kafala system, a labor sponsorship framework that tied migrant workers to employers. This groundbreaking reform, effective June 2025, impacts approximately 13 million foreign workers, granting them the freedom to change jobs and leave the country without employer consent, significantly enhancing their labor rights and mobility.

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