Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has granted a six-month extension to the grace period allowing runaway domestic workers to regularise their status, according to a report by Okaz newspaper. The extension took effect on Tuesday, November 11.
The MHRSD said the process will continue through the official Musaned platform, the government’s portal for managing household labour services in the Kingdom. Through Musaned, workers and employers can complete procedures electronically to correct legal status and settle abscondment (huroob) cases efficiently.
The ministry explained that the decision aims to “enhance transparency, improve the work environment, and protect the rights of all parties,” as new employers are permitted to transfer the sponsorship of eligible domestic workers through the same platform.
The initial grace period began on May 11, 2025, and was originally limited to six months. The extension applies specifically to domestic workers who were reported absent before this latest announcement.
Authorities said the initiative supports ongoing reforms to modernise the domestic labour sector, strengthen contractual relationships, and ensure greater stability in the labour market by allowing affected workers to transfer employment after completing the required procedures.
