The restrictions from the kafala system that gives employers control over the lives of 10 million migrant workers will be eased by Saudi Arabia. The contractual restrictions that currently prevent private-sector workers from changing jobs or leaving the country without the employer’s consent. With these changes, the Saudi government said it was seeking to “improve and increase the efficiency of the work environment”.
These reforms will come into effect in March 2021.
Rothna Begum, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told the BBC that the ministry's announcement was “significant and could improve conditions for migrant workers”. “However, this is not a full abolition of the kafala system,” she added.
“This can mean that workers can still face abuse and exploitation, as employers hold this power over them,” Begum said.
The Labour Reform Initiative was unveiled by the Saudi ministry of human resources on Wednesday and will apply to all expatriates employed in the private sector and would take effect in March. This will also allow workers to travel outside Saudi Arabia without their employers' approval.
They will also be able to apply directly for government services, and their contracts with their employers will be documented digitally. The changes, however, won’t be applicable for 3.7 million domestic workers, who are most prone to abuse.
Deputy Minister of Saudi Human Resources Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthunain said the reforms are aimed in making the Saudi labour market more attractive.
Qatar, too, made similar changes to its labour laws.
