Kafala System

In Islamic adoption law, "Kafala" refers to the adoption of children. It has its origins in pearl hunting where the industry was dominated by slave labor. In early 21^st century, the migrant worker system became known as the "Kafala system."

The system is used to monitor migrant workers primarily in construction and domestic service industries. The system requires workers to have a sponsor (employer), who is responsible for their visas and legal status. The practice is seen as abusive and has been criticized by human rights organizations for creating easy opportunities for the exploitation of workers. According to The Economist, " The migrant worker circumstance is unlikely to improve until there’s reforms to the entire system.
 
There are about 1.2 million foreign workers in Qatar, mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines, making up 94 percent of the labor force. An Arab-American businessman, Nasser Beydoun described their situation as, "foreign workers in Qatar are modern-day slaves.”