Wed Oct 22 12:28:11 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Saudi Arabia has officially abolished the Kafala system, a 50-year-old labor sponsorship program widely criticized as “modern-day slavery” due to its granting of excessive control over employees to their employers (kafeels).

News Article:

Saudi Arabia Scraps Controversial Kafala System, Ending Decades of Employer Control

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia has officially abolished its long-standing Kafala system, a labor sponsorship program that has been in place for 50 years. The reform, confirmed this month, effectively dismantles a system widely condemned by human rights organizations as “modern-day slavery” due to the excessive power it granted employers (known as kafeels) over their foreign employees.

The Kafala system, for decades, tied migrant workers’ legal status to their employers, giving kafeels significant control over their ability to change jobs, leave the country, or even remain in the Kingdom legally. Critics have long argued that this system fostered exploitation, abuse, and forced labor, leaving workers vulnerable and dependent on their employers’ goodwill.

While details of the new system are still emerging, the abolition of Kafala represents a significant step toward improving labor rights in Saudi Arabia and potentially attracting more skilled workers to the country. The move is expected to empower foreign employees and reduce the potential for exploitation by unethical employers. Further information on the implications and the replacement program is expected to be released by the Saudi government shortly.

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