Introduction
Foreign labor is an effective engine of the Saudi economy, accounting for more than a third of the Gulf country’s 33 million population and over 80% of private sector employment.
The home countries of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia mainly include; Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, in addition to Arab states such as Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Jordan and Palestine.
Despite the large numbers of foreign workers inside Saudi Arabia, the legal and humanitarian reality indicates that unfortunately, the human rights situation of these workers continues to deteriorate. The absence of a solid legal system in the Kingdom means that foreign workers are subject to many violations and abuses, whether by Saudi authorities or their direct employers.
