THE chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs has welcomed Saudi Arabia’s abolition of the Kafala system, describing it as a ‘long overdue reform’ and a ‘major victory for migrant workers.’
Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla of Agimat, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, however, said that the move also ushers in a new phase of responsibility that requires ‘constant vigilance and strong diplomatic engagement.’
Under the Kafala system, a foreign worker’s employment and residency were controlled by a private sponsor, restricting job mobility and exit without the employer’s consent. The new contract-based model now provides workers with greater freedom of movement, legal protection, and alignment with international labor standards.
‘While the Kafala system has been formally abolished as a legal framework in Saudi Arabia, it remains important to examine its enduring cultural and social effects. Legal reforms are a significant step forward, but fostering a genuine shift in perspectives and practices toward migrant workers is an ongoing process,’ the lawmaker said.
Citing 2023 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showing that Saudi Arabia remains the top destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Revilla emphasized that the policy change directly affects hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers.
He urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure the reform’s full and proper implementation, warning that gaps in enforcement could still expose OFWs to abuse, coercion, or denial of their rights.
‘This is a big step toward the greater safety and security of our OFWs. Since this reform opens doors to improve their lives, we must make sure it does not remain just on paper. It must be backed by close monitoring, sustained attention, and strong coordination between the DMW and OWWA so that every worker feels the change in their daily lives,’ Revilla said.
He also noted that this development gives the Philippines stronger leverage to encourage other Gulf states that still retain similar sponsorship systems to adopt comparable reforms. He called on the DMW and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to intensify bilateral talks and push for improved labor protection standards across the Middle East.
Revilla cautioned, however, that legal reform alone cannot undo decades of abuse. He stressed that cultural transformation and vigilant enforcement are equally necessary to protect the country’s modern-day heroes.
To ensure that reforms translate into real protection, Revilla called for stronger coordination between the DMW and OWWA in areas such as emergency assistance and repatriation, legal aid and hotlines, and comprehensive pre-departure and post-arrival orientation programs-supported by adequate funding that reflects on-the-ground realities.