Under the Kafala system, foreign workers required a Saudi sponsor who controlled their visa and legal status, and in most cases it was their employer.

xIn a historic labor reform, Saudi Arabia has abolished its decades-old Kafala system, which linked the employment and residency of workers to their employers. The move was announced in June 2025 as part of the kingdom's broader Vision 20230 reforms. The move is set to transform the lives of over 10 million migrant workers, which includes more than 2.5 million Indians. Under the Kafala system, foreign workers required a Saudi sponsor who controlled their visa and legal status, and in most cases it was their employer. As a result, workers could not change jobs, renew residence permits or even leave the country without a sponsor's consent

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