Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched on Monday an initiative through the Qiwa platform to correct the status of professional workers, who were reported as “absent from work,” effective from September 18, 2025. The initiative allows these workers to legally transfer their sponsorship to a new employer.
The ministry explained that the initiative aims to safeguard contractual rights, enhance the attractiveness of the labor market, and strengthen compliance.
The initiative covers several cases, including workers whose status changed to “absent from work” after the 60-day grace period due to absence from work, those whose status changed after the expiration or termination of a documented contract, and expatriates with absence reports filed before the launch of the initiative. To benefit from this initiative, the new employer must commit to paying late fees for the worker’s permit, and the worker must have completed at least 12 consecutive months in the Kingdom before discontinuing employment or the expiration of the contract.The ministry stressed that this initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the labor market, provide innovative solutions, and build an attractive environment that ensures compliance with regulations and laws.
