THE KAFALA SYSTEM: EXPLORING INTERSECTIONALITYIN THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANT WORKERS TO THE LABOR MARKET IN JORDAN

Abstract

This research project will explore migrant workers’ experiences with the patronage-based kafala system in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. While many research attempts have delved into disclosing the restricted and exploitative aspects of the varying experience of the migrant workers, there is still a dearth of attempts that explore the way the migrant workers flexibly and strategically employ their multiple and intersecting identities to seek upward professional and social mobility. Through the implementation of an intersectional and actor-centered approach, and the use of a qualitative design, this project seeks to explore the dynamic interaction between migrant actors and representatives of institutions in Jordan. By pursuing a qualitative and intersectional analysis of the migrant workers’ experiences with the kafala system, the project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the interplay of transborder mobility and institutional dynamics.

Keywords

• mobility
• migration
• institutions
• Jordan
• intersectionality