Saudi Arabia has introduced new rules allowing employers to legally terminate domestic workers who remain absent from work for extended periods. The measure has been implemented through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s unified recruitment platform, Musaned, as part of efforts to regulate employment relations and improve transparency.
Under the new provision, a domestic worker’s legal status must be corrected within 60 days if they stop reporting to work or end their contract. Workers who leave employment within the first two years of arrival must complete final exit procedures within 60 days. Those who have stayed longer than two years must either transfer to a new employer or obtain a final exit visa within the same period.
Failure to regularise status within 60 days will be considered a violation of residency and labour laws, and the worker may be classified as absconding. Authorities said the move aims to streamline recruitment processes, ensure compliance with regulations and protect the rights of both employers and workers.
