Key facts
- Migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, particularly those from the Philippines, continue to face abuse despite government reforms.
- Amnesty International's report highlights issues such as wage theft, excessive working hours, confinement, and physical and psychological abuse.
- The Kafala sponsorship system, which restricts workers' ability to change employers and leaves them vulnerable, remains a key driver of abuse.
- The report calls on Saudi authorities to dismantle the Kafala system and implement stronger protections for migrant workers.
Amnesty International has issued a stark warning that Saudi Arabia's reforms have failed to curb the abuse of migrant domestic workers, predominantly from the Philippines. The report, based on interviews with 164 Filipino helpers, details a range of abuses including wage theft, excessive working hours, confinement, and physical and psychological mistreatment.
The human rights organization asserts that the Kafala sponsorship system, which legally binds domestic workers to their employers, remains a primary enabler of these abuses. Despite Saudi Arabia's efforts to reform its labor laws, including the introduction of a new contract and a domestic worker law in 2015, these measures have proven insufficient to protect vulnerable workers.
Workers reported being subjected to long hours without adequate rest, having their passports confiscated, and being prevented from leaving their employers' homes. Many also experienced wage theft, with employers withholding salaries or making illegal deductions. The report emphasizes that the existing legal framework and enforcement mechanisms are inadequate to hold abusive employers accountable.
Amnesty International is urging Saudi authorities to dismantle the Kafala system entirely and implement comprehensive reforms that provide genuine protection for all migrant workers, ensuring they have the right to change employers freely and access justice when subjected to abuse.