The Kafala system binds millions of migrant workers to their employers across the Middle East.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Across the Gulf Arab states, Jordan, and Lebanon, the kafala system dictates the lives of millions of migrant workers. By tethering residency and legal status to a single employer, this sponsorship framework creates a profound power imbalance, often trapping vulnerable laborers in cycles of debt, exploitation, and restricted movement.

The kafala system functions as a sponsorship arrangement where an employer, or kafeel, assumes responsibility for a migrant worker’s visa and legal status. While sponsorship models exist globally, kafala is uniquely extreme because the employer retains significant control over the worker’s immigration status and ability to change jobs. This structure is deeply embedded in regional customs and practices, making it a complex challenge to dismantle. Historically, scholars debate its origins, with theories ranging from ancient Bedouin traditions of protection to British colonial administrative policies introduced between the 1920s and 1970s.

The vulnerability of workers is often compounded before they even arrive. Many low-wage laborers pay exorbitant recruitment fees, sometimes equivalent to a year’s salary, to agencies in their home countries. Once in the host country, the inability to easily switch employers forces many to remain in abusive conditions to pay off these debts. While some nations have begun reforms, implementation remains inconsistent. Qatar, for instance, introduced significant changes around September 2020, allowing workers to change employers with notice and abolishing exit permits. Yet, workers often lack awareness of these rights, and employers may use threats to prevent job mobility.

Beyond the sponsorship structure, migrant workers face systemic barriers to justice and labor rights. In many of these countries, trade unions are prohibited, limiting the ability of workers to bargain collectively. Accessing legal dispute mechanisms is frequently hindered by language barriers—where documentation is only accepted in Arabic or English—and significant court delays. During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, these obstacles became acute, leaving many workers stranded without pay or recourse. Even in countries with advanced legislative reforms, the informal and isolated nature of domestic work continues to leave many individuals susceptible to exploitation and forced labor.

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