Saudi Arabia ‘plans’ to scrap sponsorship system

Cairo: Saudi Arabia plans to scrap the sponsorship (kafala) system for foreign workers, the Maal newspaper has reported, citing unidentified sources.

The paper added that the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is expected this week to announce an initiative aimed at improving the contractual link between migrant workers and employers.

The reported move will take effect in the first half of next year, benefiting millions of migrant workers in the kingdom, it added.

Commenting on the report, spokesman for the Ministry of Human Resources Nasser Al Hazani said the ministry is working on several initiatives to “regulate and develop” the labour market.

“These initiatives will be announced when they are ready,” he added in a tweet. “The ministry calls for obtaining information from its official sources,” he added without giving details.

Foreigners make up around 10.5 million of Saudi Arabia’s total population of 34.8 million.