Saudi Arabia Halts Blockwork Visas for Nigeria and 13 Nations Amid Labour Policy Overhaul

 

Saudi Arabia has placed a temporary suspension on the issuance of blockwork visa quotas to Nigeria and thirteen other countries, disrupting labour migration channels at a critical time for both workers and employers. The decision, announced by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, reflects a significant shift in labour policy as Saudi authorities move to regulate workforce inflows in the lead-up to the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Nigeria joins six other African nations—Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Morocco—on the list of affected countries. The suspension also spans several Asian and Middle Eastern countries including Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. These 14 nations collectively represent a substantial portion of the migrant labour population that powers Saudi Arabia’s domestic and low-wage sectors.

Blockwork visas, the type impacted by the freeze, function under a quota-based system. Employers in Saudi Arabia typically apply for a block visa quota, which, once approved, allows them to sponsor a specific number of foreign workers. This quota system is often used by large companies, particularly in sectors such as construction, domestic services, hospitality, and maintenance. It enables streamlined bulk hiring from designated countries, including Nigeria, which has seen growing numbers of its citizens seek employment in the Gulf.

The current suspension halts not only the issuance of new quotas but also the processing of pending applications. Workers who already hold valid work visas but have yet to enter Saudi Arabia may also face unexpected restrictions at entry points, further complicating the migration process.

This visa freeze will remain in effect until the end of June 2025, closely tied to the culmination of the Hajj season—a period that traditionally sees heightened scrutiny of entry protocols and population flows in the Kingdom. Though no direct rationale was offered in the official statement, the decision aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategic objectives under its Saudization policy, an initiative aimed at increasing employment opportunities for Saudi citizens.

Authorities in Riyadh are under mounting pressure to reshape their labour policies in line with Vision 2030—a national reform blueprint that seeks to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on foreign workers. The Ministry has also hinted at stricter hiring quotas to be rolled out between 2026 and 2028, targeting sectors like retail, hospitality, and tourism—areas typically filled by foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

The timing of the suspension has drawn attention given Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to place intense international scrutiny on the country’s human rights and labour practices. Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, particularly those from Africa and South Asia, have long faced significant challenges ranging from wage theft to unsafe working conditions, compounded by the controversial Kafala sponsorship system. This legal framework grants employers wide-ranging authority over their workers, often resulting in abuse, restricted mobility, and limited access to justice.

A 2022 report from the Gulf Labour Markets, Migration and Population programme—an arm of the Gulf Research Centre—highlighted the scale of African labour migration to the Kingdom. Egypt topped the list with an estimated 837,000 nationals working in Saudi Arabia, while Sudan followed with over 354,000. Nigeria, though with a smaller presence, still accounted for more than 10,000 workers employed primarily in domestic and unskilled sectors. Other African countries, such as Morocco (18,023), Ethiopia (16,719), Tunisia (12,311), and Algeria (2,001), round out the numbers.

For thousands of Nigerian families relying on remittances from relatives working abroad, the suspension spells economic uncertainty. Local recruitment agencies and job seekers alike are now grappling with sudden disruptions, especially those already in the midst of processing visa documentation. Employers in Saudi Arabia who rely heavily on African and Asian migrant labour may also face operational challenges as they attempt to navigate the freeze or seek alternative recruitment strategies.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has yet to release a formal roadmap for reinstating the blockwork visa program post-June 2025, leaving a cloud of ambiguity over the future of migrant labour in the region. Advocacy groups continue to call for meaningful reforms to labour policies in the Gulf, urging Saudi Arabia to balance its economic goals with ethical labour practices and international human rights standards.

As the Kingdom moves ahead with its national transformation agenda, the implications of the visa suspension could reverberate far beyond its borders, especially across labour-exporting countries like Nigeria that depend heavily on overseas employment to curb local unemployment and drive foreign exchange earnings.