Wage Protection Service for Domestic Workers Launched in Saudi Arabia

Beginning July 1st, 2024, the Wage Protection Service for domestic labour salaries will be in effect in Saudi Arabia. The initiative, launched by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to enhance the rights of employers as well as domestic workers.

Through the use of the Ministry’s Musaned platform, an online platform which aims to enhance recruitment procedures for domestic workers, the Wage Protection Service will exclusively employ the use of Musaned-certified banks and digital wallets to ensure the transparency of payment to domestic workers. The service’s main aims are to provide proof of wages, ease the termination of contracts of employees in the event of the employee travelling or an end to the contractual relationship, and to protect both parties in the event of contractual disagreements.

Having been optionally available on the Musaned platform since April 1st, 2022, the new mandate will become obligatory for use to employers in stages, depending on the number of domestic workers employed. Those who have four or more domestic workers will be obliged to use the service from January 1st, 2025. Employers of three or more domestic workers will need to start from July 1st, 2025, while employers of two or more domestic workers begin from October 1st, 2025.