The sponsorship system that is required to all foreign workers in Kuwait is soon to be abolished. This is the announcement that was recently made by the government of Kuwait. Currently all foreigners who wish to work in Kuwait are required to have a sponsor but this will no longer be necessary starting next February when a new public authority will be created to administer hiring of foreign workers.

The sponsorship system in foreign workers is said to be a form of modern day slavery and has been criticized by international human rights group. Kuwait is the second country in the Middle East to put an end to this system. The first one is Bahrain which had abolished the system in 2009.

In an article that appeared in Arab Times Online, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour in Kuwait, Mohammed al-Afasi said, “This will be our gift to foreign workers on the anniversary of Kuwait’s liberation" from seven months of Iraqi occupation in 1991.”

The said system is called kafeel in Kuwait and some of its conditions make foreign workers vulnerable to abuse. This is because a foreign worker cannot transfer to a new employer or look for a new job without the approval of their sponsor. They are also only allowed to change employers after three years of service.

This is why groups of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) expressed happiness with this new development as it will benefit the estimated 146,000 Filipinos that are working in Kuwait.

A migrant group, Migrante said that the decision of Kuwait is an indication that they are geared towards respecting the rights and well-being of expatriate workers there.

Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East coordinator said, “We are glad to hear that Kuwait recognizes the need to abolish the sponsorship system, as it would provide more freedom for expatriate workers in terms of travel and the opportunity to change and look for a better job within Kuwait."