kafala

Kafala, from the Arabic word for sponsorship or guardianship, is a labor migration framework used in several Gulf and Middle Eastern countries. Under kafala, a migrant worker’s legal status is tied to a sponsor—typically the employer—who must provide a visa and oversee the worker’s residency. The system has historically granted the sponsor control over entry, duration of stay, and often the right to approve or deny a change of employer. In some contexts, workers have needed the sponsor’s consent to switch jobs or to leave the country. In practice, the arrangement can leave workers dependent on a single employer for the duration of their contract, and issues such as passport retention and restricted mobility have been reported in some cases. Kafala commonly covers low-skilled labor, domestic workers, and construction or service sectors, with variations in enforcement and scope across jurisdictions. The state-administered residence permit (iqama or similar) operates alongside kafala, but the sponsor’s authorization has historically remained central to work and stay.

Criticism and reforms have shaped the contemporary discussion of kafala. Human rights organizations, international bodies, and labor advocates argue that the system creates vulnerability to abuse, exploitation, and debt bondage. In response, several Gulf states have pursued reforms intended to enhance worker mobility, wage protections, contract transparency, and access to remedies. Examples include measures in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to ease job-switching restrictions or exit procedures, and broader efforts to improve enforcement. Despite these reforms, observers note that gaps remain and calls for more comprehensive changes—ranging from substantial alteration to abolition and replacement with a rights-based, portable system—continue.