Saudi Arabia allows transfer of domestic workers from companies to individuals

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new electronic service to facilitate the transfer of foreign domestic workers from private sector establishments to individual employers. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development stated that this initiative aims to regulate the hiring of domestic staff, ensuring compliance with a set of conditions and regulations.

To be eligible for transfer, a foreign worker's permit must be valid, and they must not be employed in high-skilled professions like education, healthcare, or specialized technical roles. The position must also be classified as domestic work. The process requires a certified waiver from the previous employer, a salary certificate or bank statement from the new employer proving financial capability, and a copy of the worker's residency permit.

This new service aligns with the mandatory implementation of the Wage Protection Program for domestic workers, which ensures timely salary payments through approved channels. The program aims to enhance transparency and protect the rights of both employers and employees. Supporting documents for the transfer must be uploaded electronically in various formats, with file size limits. An annual fee applies for additional domestic workers beyond a certain limit, though exceptions exist for humanitarian cases.