Qatar, the kafala system and the lives of migrant workers

Berlin, Doha Important step forward. Significant reform. Encouraging sign: When Qatar introduced new labor laws two years ago, the emirate on the Persian Gulf received much applause from international institutions and human rights activists. At that time, Qatar abolished the so-called kafala system, which made foreign workers serfs of their employers.

The reform improved Qatar’s image ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which begins this weekend. But shortly before the opening of the tournament, critics sound the alarm: the reform is not taking effect, workers are still being exploited.

The kafala system spread to the Gulf States in the 1950s when the Arab monarchies, having discovered vast oil reserves, were in dire need of cheap foreign labour; in Qatar it was introduced by law in 2009.

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