Navigating The New Work Visa Rules For Foreign Domestic Workers In Saudi Arabia

In a bid to enhance the structure and oversight of the domestic labor market, Saudi Arabia has implemented stringent regulations governing the issuance of visas for foreign domestic workers. The recent announcement by Musaned, a government platform overseeing domestic labor, introduces key changes that impact eligibility and aims to bring transparency to the recruitment process.

Minimum Age Requirement

A significant alteration involves the minimum age requirement for obtaining a work visa for foreign domestic workers. Now set at 24 years, this criterion reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to ensuring a responsible and mature employment environment for domestic workers.

Eligibility Criteria

The regulations specify distinct eligibility criteria for visa applications. Saudi citizens, Gulf nationals, foreign wives of Saudi men and their mothers, along with holders of Saudi premium residency permits, are eligible to apply for visas to hire overseas domestic labor. However, approval is contingent upon the financial capabilities of the employers.

Streamlining Through Musaned

At the forefront of these changes is the Musaned platform, established by the Ministry of Human Resources. This platform not only empowers customers with information about their rights and duties but also serves as the official recruitment avenue for domestic labor in the country. It facilitates essential processes such as visa issuance, recruitment requests, wage transfers, and contract authentication.

Digital Services For Efficiency

To enhance the efficiency of labor transactions, Musaned leverages digital services like STC Pay and Urpay apps for wage transfers. The platform’s functionalities extend to the transfer of a house worker’s service between employers and the resolution of disputes, emphasizing the need for all contracting activities to be conducted through Musaned.

Covering Various Domains

The scope of these regulations encompasses a range of domestic worker categories, including housekeepers, drivers, housemaids, cleaners, cooks, guards, farmers, tailors, live-in nurses, tutors, and nannies. By delineating specific guidelines for each category, the aim is to ensure fairness and clarity in the recruitment process.

Fostering Transparency And Dispute Resolution

Beyond regulatory shifts, the move seeks to foster transparency and efficiency in recruitment while offering a robust platform for addressing disputes. By centralizing the recruitment process through Musaned, Saudi Arabia is taking significant strides toward ensuring the rights of both employers and domestic workers.

As Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to refine and regulate the domestic labor market, these new work visa rules stand as a testament to the commitment to responsible and transparent employment practices. The Ministry’s emphasis on utilizing Musaned as the primary recruitment platform reinforces the importance of a centralized and official channel for all domestic labor-related activities in the country.