The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has announced a six-month grace period, starting 11 May 2025, to regularise the status of domestic workers reported as absconding from work.
According to the MHRSD, the amnesty does not apply to domestic workers who are reported as absconded after the announcement or to those who entered Saudi Arabia irregularly. The ministry also stated that the initiative aims to help regulate the labour market by allowing domestic workers currently in Saudi Arabia who were reported as absconding to regularise their status by transferring to a new employer, provided they complete the required procedures.
The Amnesty procedures appear to be fully online, according to instructions published by the MHRSD. Employers can apply to transfer an absconded domestic worker under their sponsorship through Musaned, Saudi Arabia’s official platform for recruiting domestic workers. To initiate the process, the prospective employer must enter the domestic worker’s Iqama number and send them a one- or two-year employment contract. The domestic worker must then log into Musaned and accept the terms and conditions of the contract.
According to Musaned, employers must not have any traffic violations or government-related restrictions in order to transfer an absconded domestic worker. The domestic worker’s occupation must also fall under the “listed domestic professions,” though the platform does not specify which professions are included.
The Amnesty does not apply to domestic workers of Chadian nationality, although no reason has been provided for this exclusion. In addition, domestic workers cannot be transferred to jobs in the private sector, including positions in cleaning companies.
Because the Iqama number is required to avail the amnesty, this could create significant barriers for many domestic workers who do not have a valid Iqama. Social media users have raised this concern, calling on authorities to allow transfers using the border number, a unique identifier assigned by Saudi immigration authorities to all visitors. Domestic workers also need an Iqama number to log in to Musaned to complete the transfer process.
Another challenge is that many absconded domestic workers do not have their passports, which are often confiscated by employers. Since a valid passport is necessary to issue a new work permit, this could further complicate the transfer process. Additionally, most domestic workers may struggle to access and navigate the Musaned platform, which is available only in Arabic and English and requires a certain level of digital literacy. This limitation makes it difficult for many workers to complete the necessary steps to accept a contract and finalise the transfer.
Since the amnesty does not allow domestic workers to transition to the private sector, it is uncertain how well it will be received. One of the main reasons domestic workers leave their employment is due to abuse and the harsh working conditions of live-in domestic work, which often include long hours, no rest, and isolation. While Saudi domestic worker laws set out working conditions, they are rarely enforced in the domestic sector, leading many workers to prefer leaving and working irregularly on a live-out basis instead of staying in an employer’s home. Employers also file absconding cases against workers to avoid their obligations and obstruct access to justice.
Last year, the Saudi government announced granting domestic workers charged with absconding a two-month grace period from the date of the charge to either regularise their status or leave the country before their status becomes irregular. However, according to migrant advocates in Saudi Arabia whom MR spoke with, the reform has not yet been implemented.
According to the latest data from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics, the total number of registered domestic workers reached 4,033,766 at the end of 2024, up from 3,826,513 the previous year.
