Kafala system
The kafala system is a way of controlling the labor market in some countries, particularly in the Middle East. It's like a grown-up version of having a babysitter or nanny take care of you.
Imagine you are a toy and your parents want to leave you with someone when they go to work. They might hire a babysitter, and that babysitter would be responsible for taking care of you while your parents aren't there. The kafala system works kind of like that, but with workers instead of children.
In the kafala system, workers from other countries come to work in the country where the kafala system is used. These workers need permission from a sponsor, who is like a babysitter, in order to work and live in the country. This sponsor is usually their employer, and they are responsible for the worker while they are in the country.
Like any babysitter or caregiver, the sponsor has a lot of control over the worker. They might decide how much the worker gets paid, what their living arrangements are, and what kind of work they do. They can also decide when the worker gets to leave the job or the country.
Unfortunately, the kafala system can be harmful to workers, especially if their sponsor is not a good one. Some sponsors might mistreat their workers, not pay them fairly, or even take away their passports so that they can't leave. This is why some people have criticized the kafala system and called for better protections for workers.
Imagine you are a toy and your parents want to leave you with someone when they go to work. They might hire a babysitter, and that babysitter would be responsible for taking care of you while your parents aren't there. The kafala system works kind of like that, but with workers instead of children.
In the kafala system, workers from other countries come to work in the country where the kafala system is used. These workers need permission from a sponsor, who is like a babysitter, in order to work and live in the country. This sponsor is usually their employer, and they are responsible for the worker while they are in the country.
Like any babysitter or caregiver, the sponsor has a lot of control over the worker. They might decide how much the worker gets paid, what their living arrangements are, and what kind of work they do. They can also decide when the worker gets to leave the job or the country.
Unfortunately, the kafala system can be harmful to workers, especially if their sponsor is not a good one. Some sponsors might mistreat their workers, not pay them fairly, or even take away their passports so that they can't leave. This is why some people have criticized the kafala system and called for better protections for workers.