The Council of Ministers has approved a new regulation stating that employers will be permanently banned from recruiting domestic labor if they violate the terms of agreement signed upon more than three consecutive times.
The regulation stipulates that employers be fined SR2,000 the first time they commit a breach of contract and/or be banned from recruiting new workers for a period of one year.
The fine will be increased to SR5,000 the second time around, with a potential ban of three years for hiring foreign labor.
The new regulation additionally emphasizes that workers should not be tasked with undertaking work that may affect their health or human dignity or work that was not initially agreed upon. The employer should also pay wages at the end of every Hijri month unless a written agreement between the two sides says otherwise.
In addition, any dues should be paid in cash or by check and the transaction should be documented in writing unless the worker wishes that his wages be transferred to a specific bank account.
Other stipulations include providing decent lodging and not less than nine hours of rest a day.
In addition, workers should not be sent to work for another party under any circumstance or be allowed to take on independent work.
Household workers are also given the right to one month paid leave after two years of services and paid sick leave worth 30 days based on medical reports.
Workers will have one day off a week and an end-of-service bonus of one month's pay if they have spent four consecutive years in service.
The new regulation stipulates, however, that workers bear the cost of returning back home if they commit violations and that the Kingdom will deport those who cannot afford travel costs or fines.
Finally, the regulation states that employers can only deduct money from wages following a judicial ruling allowing for compensation for damage or negligence.
New regulation to protect rights of domestic workers
