Kafala System

Kafala system (Sponsorship system) is the name of system which regulates the status of migrant workers in Arab countries. The system used to monitor migrant labourers, working primarily in the construction and domestic sectors.

The system requires all unskilled labourers to have an in-country sponsor usually their employer who is responsible for their visa and legal status . The migrant workers’ visas are tied to the employers so that they cannot change jobs without the consent of their employers.

This practice has been criticised by human rights organizations for creating easy opportunities for the exploitation of workers, as many employers take away passports and abuse their workers with little chance of legal repercussions.