Web Desk; Saudi Arabia has prohibited employers from charging domestic workers any fees related to recruitment, work permits, or residency documents, according to the Saudi Gazette.
The Ministry of Human Resources issued new regulations that outline strict penalties, including fines of up to 20,000 riyals and a three-year ban on hiring, for violators.
The new “Guide to the Rights and Obligations of Domestic Workers” aims to ensure fair treatment and decent living standards for domestic employees.
It covers professions such as private drivers, home nurses, cooks, guards, personal assistants, and household managers. Employers are forbidden from deducting or demanding payments for iqama, recruitment, transfer of services, or change of profession.
Repeat violations could result in permanent bans and doubled penalties. Domestic workers are also required to observe proper behavior, maintain confidentiality, protect their employer’s property, and respect Islamic and social values. Workers violating these rules may face fines up to SR2,000 or a permanent work ban in the kingdom.
The regulations guarantee timely wage payments, a weekly rest day, at least eight continuous hours of daily rest, one month’s paid leave after two years of work, and free air travel to their home country every two years. They are also entitled to a month’s salary as end-of-service gratuity after four years and up to 30 days of paid sick leave annually.
Importantly, the guidelines prohibit employers from keeping workers’ passports or iqamas. Employers must also facilitate communication between workers and their families, renew their legal documents, and bear all related expenses.
More than 2.05 million Pakistani workers are currently registered for employment in Saudi Arabia, many of them in the domestic sector. The new rules are seen as part of the kingdom’s broader labor reforms aimed at protecting foreign workers and improving their living conditions.
