March 15: Saudi Arab has introduced a reform in its ‘Kafala’ (sponsorship) system, allowing migrant workers working in the private sector to change jobs without the consent of the employer, according to Equidem - a charitable organisation working for human rights in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

From now on, thousands of Nepali workers working in Saudi Arabia can change their jobs and come to Nepal without receiving approval from their employer although this reform is not applicable to a certain group of workers.

The government of Saudi Arabia had announced to bring changes to the labor system in November last year. The reform has come into effect from March 15. As per the new rule, migrant workers working in the private sector such as construction companies, hospitality industry, and infrastructure development projects no longer need to get the permission from the employer to switch jobs, open bank account and leave the country.

Under the Kafala system, the labor law of Saudi Arabia, migrant workers need sponsors (Kafeel) to enter and work in the country. According to Equidem, he Kafala system has been in place for almost seven decades which binds worker to a single sponsor. With the newly introduced rule, most of the workers no longer need to restrict themselves to a single employer.

 “The new changes will not have a large impact unless it is applied to all the workers working in all sectors,” said Mustafa Qadri, founder and executive director of Equidem,  in a statement.

The new rule which has come into effect from 15^th March doesn’t apply to four million migrant workers working as domestic help, farmers, gardeners, security guards, and are still under risk of exploitation.  Despite the recent changes, all the migrant workers still need sponsors to come as workers in the country. They also need to get permission from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia to leave or enter the country.

Nepal still remains one of the leading suppliers of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia in spite of the Gulf Nation’s extreme labor laws. In the months of Magh, a total of 4,978 workers received permit from the Department of Foreign Employment to work in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is second on the list after the UAE among countries for which the highest number of applicants have received labor permits in the month of Magh.