Consultation demands abolishing Kafala for migrants in ME

FE Report | Published: June 11, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Speakers Tuesday called for abolishing the existing Kafala (sponsorship) system, related to the workers' recruitment process, in the Middle East (ME) countries with a view to protecting the migrants' rights.
Terming Kafala system a 'modern form of slavery', they said it violates workers' rights in many ways.
The speakers made the demand at a national consultation on 'Kafala' system at the city's BRAC Centre Inn. It was organised by the National Alliance for Migrants' Rights Bangladesh (NAMR,B).
Sheepa Hafiza, director, Gender, Justice and Diversity, and Migration Programme, presented the keynote paper and appealed to the persons concerned to unite and raise a global voice to abolish the 'Kafala' system.
She highlighted the exploitation that afflicted the migrants in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that had stemmed from the 'Kafala' system.
The participants observed that the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 was an opportunity for Bangladesh to raise the issue of the abolition of the Kafala system in the ME countries.
The number of migrant workers would increase ahead of the World Cup Football, the meeting observed.
Presently Qatar is the second-largest market for Bangladeshi workers.
Qatar needs more than 1.5 million workers to build its infrustucture to host the World Cup.
Under the 'Kafala' system, a Kafeel or sponsor has complete control of the mobility of the workers.
The migrants have to abide by the rules of restriction in entering the country without their employers' permission; they cannot change the assigned jobs without their employers' permission; cannot have their residence permits issued or renewed without an employer's cooperation. A report in this regard was presented at the consultation meeting.
The report also said under the ambit of Kafala an 'exit visa system' prevents workers from leaving the country and it is controlled by their employers, the workers' residence permits could get cancelled anytime; the workers who do not have these permits are at a constant risk of being arrested.
Due to such sponsorship system, domestic workers in the Gulf region face numerous sufferings including physical and sexual tortures, said Sumaiya Islam, director of Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA).
Kazi Abul Kalam, deputy secretary, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment said, Bangladesh government was continuously working to protect the rights of the migrant workers.
He also said the government was also engaged in the Colombo Process (an alliance of labour sending countries) and Abu Dhabi Dialogue on Kafala to work on it more effectively.
Golam Mustafa Khan, director of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) stated that they were receiving more than 150 cases on rights violation every day.
He said that most of them came from GCC countries. He mentioned that the government raised the issue at global forums.
Government officials, academics, journalists, lawyers, rights and development activists as well as members of national and international organisations were present at the consultation meet.