Recently a movie was released on Netflix named “The Goat Life” The theme of this movie tells the story of Najeeb Muhammad. He is an Indian migrant worker in Saudi Arabia in the 1990s. After getting stranded in the desert, Najeeb can work as a goat herder. Furthermore, the movie’s theme is based on the 2008 bestseller “Goat Days.” Another migrant worker, named Benyamin, wrote this.
This movie becomes the source of trouble for many people living in Saudi Arabia. Many people raised their voices and said to boycott Netflix because the film exaggerates a rare case of worker mistreatment. According to them, they represent Saudi culture in a dark light, and also the data is not updated. People argue that this movie is not true and doesn’t tell the right story of how Saudi Arabia treats its workers. Also, the movie represents the mistreatment of workers by Saudi officials. Furthermore, officials of this nation also worried that this film might affect the country’s image on a global scale.
The movie may overstate some parts of Najeeb’s story for dramatic effect. However, the harsh realities explored in the movie are more common in Saudi Arabia. No doubt that the story is based on events from the 1990s, but the abuses it points out are still happening in this nation. Najeeb also gave an interview where he said that many parts of the movie show the right picture of Saudi Arabia. He also shared more details that prove what the movie shows.
The film exposes the severe mistreatment of animal herders in Saudi Arabia. Also, it is largely due to the result of the nation’s kafala system. The strategy of this system is to give employers too much power over workers. This approach leads to widespread, different types of abuse. It includes wage theft, high recruitment fees, exposure to dangerous heat, and a lack of government oversight. For many years, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have been involved in these crimes.
Due to the poor protection of labour laws in Saudi Arabia, Migrant animal herders, much like domestic workers, suffer some of the worst abuses. With all of this, they are also becoming victims of human trafficking, forced isolation, and physical abuse.
The movie shows the bad side of Saudi Arabia’s labour practices. It shows that these cruel conditions are not just a thing of the past, but a problem that the country needs to fix.
It is very disappointing and troubling to know that Saudi officials haven’t taken any action against the mistreatment of migrant workers. The bad behaviours of people towards migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are often brushed off as racism or unfair criticism. Instead of facing these serious issues head-on, some people resort to distractions like “whataboutism,” which only sidesteps the real problems. The kafala system in Saudi Arabia is not fair and also this labour control mechanism is based on migrant workers.
This system is the root cause of many problems. It is widespread abuse and exploitation, and the case of Najeeb is a clear example of it. First, Najeeb’s fraudulent sponsor deceived Najeeb at the airport. Here he was forced into harsh conditions. This was the incident 30 years ago. Despite this happening, the kafala system is still harming workers.
It is also crucial to know that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plans are ambitious. As it includes hosting major events like the 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The success of these projects depends on migrant labour. So, if the nation wants to succeed in the future, it should protect labour laws and make substantial improvements to protect workers’ rights. This is the only way that this country achieves its goals without perpetuating abuse.
The story of Najeeb represents that Saudi Arabia does not respect migrant workers. This behaviour is a great hurdle to the success of this nation. First, the nation should address labour issues urgently.
Implementing strong labour protections is not just an ethical obligation but also essential for maintaining its international reputation and ensuring the well-being of those who contribute significantly to its ambitious projects.