Saudi Arabia has imposed a ban on employers charging any fees from their domestic workers, including recruitment and work permit fees. Violation of this regulation can result in a fine of up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals and a ban on hiring workers for up to three years.
According to a report by Saudi Gazette, companies are prohibited from collecting any type of fee from workers, including fees related to recruitment, job transfer, profession change, residency permit (Iqama), and work permits.
The Saudi Gazette further said that these provisions have been included in the Guidelines on the Rights and Responsibilities of Domestic Workers, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). The guide includes a comprehensive package of rights ensuring a dignified life and stable work environment for domestic workers.
According to the Ministry’s website, legally permitted professions in the domestic sector include: domestic worker, private driver, teacher, nurse, cook, planner, travel assistant, house manager, guard, farmer, barista, personal assistant, and physiotherapy specialist.
As per the guidelines, a domestic worker is defined as someone who performs domestic work for the employer directly or indirectly, or a member of the staff under the employer who performs or substitutes in such work.
To prevent violations, the regulations stipulate a maximum fine of 20,000 Riyals and a ban of up to three years on recruitment.
In some cases, this ban may be permanent, and repeat offenses will result in double penalties.
On the other hand, the regulations also require domestic workers to: exhibit good conduct, take care of the employer’s property, maintain confidentiality of household matters, respect Islamic values, and abide by social norms and ethics.
If a domestic worker violates these rules, they may face a fine of up to 2,000 Riyals or a permanent ban from working in Saudi Arabia or both penalties.
The guidelines also state that fines will increase depending on the number of violations, and the domestic worker will have to bear the cost of returning to their home country in case of violations.
According to Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, over 2 million Pakistani workers, including those in the domestic sector, have registered for employment in Saudi Arabia between 2020 and September 2025.
Rights of Domestic Workers
As per the Saudi Gazette, the new regulations state that domestic workers must be paid according to the unified contract agreed upon with the employer.
For years, minor violations of Saudi Arabia’s labor laws have been reported, especially affecting low-wage workers who form a large part of the workforce in homes and companies.
Millions of citizens from countries like Yemen, Egypt, Lebanon, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines work in Saudi Arabia, and their home economies rely heavily on remittances.
The new guidelines also emphasize the right to a weekly day off, to be specified in the contract.
Other entitlements include:
- Minimum 8 consecutive hours of daily rest
- One-month paid leave after completing two years of continuous service (if the worker wishes to renew the contract)
- Round-trip ticket to home country every two years (at the employer’s expense)
- One-month salary as end-of-service benefit after completing four years
- Up to 30 days of sick leave per year, based on a medical report
Domestic workers also have the right to retain their identification documents (passport and Iqama), and employers are not allowed to confiscate them.
Employers are also required to:
- Provide means for the worker to stay in contact with their family
- Issue and renew Iqama and other legal documents at their own expense
- Pay monthly wages on time
In 2008, Human Rights Watch called on Saudi Arabia to improve labor protection laws and abolish the Kafala (sponsorship) system, which often treated domestic workers like indentured servants.
Under the Kafala system, foreign workers’ visas were tied to their employer, who often kept their passports, making them dependent on the sponsor.
In 2021, Saudi Arabia reformed the Kafala system, allowing some foreign workers to leave the country without the employer’s permission.
