Daijiworld Media Network – Riyadh

Riyadh, Nov 13: In a significant move aimed at safeguarding the rights of domestic workers and employers, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a six-month extension of the grace period for domestic workers with irregular legal status to regularise their situation. The extension, effective from November 11, reflects the government’s continued commitment to reforming the labour market and ensuring fair employment practices.

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the extended grace period will allow workers who were previously reported as absent from work (huroob) to correct their legal status. The extension applies specifically to cases where abscondment reports were filed prior to the latest announcement.

The previous grace period, introduced on May 11, 2025, provided six months for workers and employers to address issues related to expired residency permits and abscondment reports. The new extension offers another opportunity for those who were unable to regularise their status during the earlier period.

All procedures related to the correction of employment status will continue to be handled through Musaned, the Ministry’s official digital platform for domestic employment services. Through Musaned, employers can complete transfer procedures electronically, ensuring a transparent and efficient process.

The platform also facilitates automated transfers of services, enabling domestic workers whose residency permits have expired or who were previously reported absent to transfer to new sponsors after completing the required legal steps.

The ministry outlined several goals behind this initiative, including:

• Improving contractual relationships between domestic workers and employers.

• Ensuring fairness, safety, and transparency in the domestic labour sector.

• Offering a penalty-free mechanism for correcting irregular employment status.

By promoting digital documentation and transparent procedures, the ministry aims to strengthen the regulatory framework of Saudi Arabia’s domestic labour market and enhance protection for both employers and workers.

The extension forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader labour reform agenda, which focuses on regulated employment, contractual clarity, and human rights protections. Domestic workers who have remained in the Kingdom after absconding from their original sponsors can now use this renewed grace period to regularise their status legally and rejoin the workforce under proper sponsorship.

With Musaned serving as the cornerstone of these reforms, the Kingdom continues to advance toward a modern, transparent, and equitable employment system that aligns with its Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and social development.