Saudi Arabia has introduced a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at protecting the rights of domestic workers and making the labor market more appealing. The new rules specify a minimum age of 21 years for domestic workers.
Published in the kingdom’s Official Gazette, Umm Al Qura, the guidelines dictate that unless stated otherwise in the contract, all dates should follow the Gregorian calendar. Any terms conflicting with these rules are nullified unless they offer more advantages to the worker.
Key highlights from the updated regulations include:
- Debts owed to the worker or their heirs have top priority as first-degree debts.
- The employment contract will be overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and will be written in Arabic, accompanied by a translation in the worker’s native language.
- The contract should have a fixed duration, but if unspecified, it’s renewable for a year from the date the worker starts.
- Essential contract details include job description, names, nationalities, contact details of both parties, employer’s address, contract signing and validity dates.
- The contract must clearly lay out wages, payment methods, rights, obligations, probation period (max 90 days), daily working hours, weekly rest, overtime, contract duration, renewal, termination, and insurance.
- Workers have a maximum of 10 daily working hours and are entitled to a weekly 24-hour paid rest period.
- Employers are responsible for all costs related to recruitment, job change, residency, work licenses, and any related fines.
- Withholding the domestic worker’s passport or personal documents is prohibited.
- The employer must not subject the worker to any form of abuse, discrimination, or violence and should provide opportunities for communication with the worker’s family and related agencies.
- Workers are entitled to suitable housing and food, or equivalent allowances.
- In turn, the worker must fulfill their job duties, respect the employer’s property, avoid any form of assault against the employer or their family, and maintain confidentiality.
- Self-employment or working for another party during the contract period is forbidden. Workers are also required to respect Islam, Saudi traditions, and prevailing systems.
