Qiwa to Remove Workers With Expired Permits From Employer Records
The automatic removals will begin on July 1st for permits expired by more than three months.
Qiwa will begin automatically removing workers from employer records in Saudi Arabia from July 1st if their work permits have been expired for more than three months.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's labour platform has set June 30th as the final day for employers to either renew affected work permits or transfer employee services before the automatic removals take effect.
According to Qiwa, employers will remain responsible for all financial obligations incurred during any period an employee worked without a valid work permit, up to the date the worker is removed from the establishment's records.
The platform urged employers to regularise workers' status by renewing permits or completing service transfers, warning that failure to do so could result in legal action and additional financial liabilities.
Qiwa also outlined an exception to the policy. Workers whose residency permits remain valid for at least 180 days will not be removed from establishment records, even if their work permits have expired, provided the expiry dates of the two permits differ. Where the remaining validity of the residency permit is less than 180 days, employers must renew both the residency and work permits to avoid further action.
From July 1st, resident employees whose work permits have remained expired for more than three months will have their registrations automatically cancelled from employer records, while employers will continue to be liable for any outstanding fees accrued before their removal.
