This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
Trapped in Saudi Arabia ¶
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the globe, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are facing a desperate situation. Many are stuck in the country due to debt, with no way to leave or access basic services.
The problem is rooted in the 'kafala' sponsorship system, which critics describe as a modern form of slavery. Workers are bound to their Saudi employers, who have control over their entry and exit from the kingdom, as well as their ability to change jobs.
Employers also hold significant sway over workers, with the power to render them illegal. This has led to a situation where many workers are forced to live in hiding, afraid of being arrested or deported.
One such worker is Hatem, a 45-year-old electrician from Sudan. He arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2016 and has been living in a squalid apartment in Riyadh, sharing it with other workers. Hatem's nightmare began when his sponsor began demanding a large chunk of his earnings in exchange for renewing his residence permit.
"My six kids, my old mother, my sister in Sudan... are living in a difficult situation, but I live in much worse conditions," Hatem told AFP.
"The sponsorship system is very unjust," he added.
Activists are calling on the Saudi government to reform its labour policy and offer an amnesty to poor debt-ridden workers trapped in the country. They argue that holding back such workers risks fuelling the pandemic, as they are forced to go into hiding and are unable to access basic services.
"The Saudi government should offer an amnesty for irregular migrants to regularise their status or return to their home countries," said Annas Shaker, a research fellow at the advocacy group Migrant Rights.
Despite the government's offer of free coronavirus treatment to illegal workers, many are still hesitant to come forward. Three undocumented workers who spoke to AFP said they would be unwilling to do so, fearing arrest and deportation.
"There is no guarantee I will not be arrested," said one of the Egyptians, a 36-year-old father-of-two.
