Okaz/Saudi Gazette
RIYADH — Employers are banned from charging any fees from their domestic workers, including the fees for recruitment, work permit, transfer of service and change of profession. Employers who violate the regulations will be slapped with fines amounting to a maximum SR20,000 and a ban on recruitment of domestic workers for a period of three years.

These provisions are included in the Guide to the Rights and Obligations of Domestic Workers, a copy of which was obtained by Okaz.The guide, released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, consists of a comprehensive package of legislation regulating the relationship between employers and employees.

The regulations include a package of rights that guarantee the domestic worker a decent life and a stable work environment. These include not charging from domestic workers any fees related to recruitment, change of professions, transfer of services, residency permit (iqama) and work permits. It is also stipulated that domestic workers shall be disbursed with their wages according to the unified contract signed with the employer. The regulations emphasized the worker's right to a weekly rest day agreed upon in the contract. Daily rest hours of no less than 8 continuous hours, in addition to a full month's leave after completing two years of continuous work if the worker wishes to renew the work contract.

The ministry emphasized that regulating the domestic worker sector stems from the Kingdom's commitment to protecting the rights of all parties and ensuring a work environment based on justice and human dignity. The guide specifies a list of professions permitted by law in the domestic worker sector, and these include domestic worker, private driver, and specialized professions such as home nurse, cook, tailor, butler, supervisor, and house manager, as well as home guard, personal assistant, farmer, physical therapist, and home coffee maker. The guide allows the addition of any other professions that may fall under the duties of domestic workers.

The rights of the domestic worker include obtaining a travel ticket to his/her country every two years at the employer's expense; an end-of-service gratuity equivalent to one month's salary upon completing four consecutive years, and sick leave of up to 30 days per year when needed, based on an approved medical report.

In addition, the workers have the right to keep all their identification documents, such as passport and iqama, without them being confiscated by the employer. The regulation includes the obligations of the domestic worker such as the proper conduct of the contractual relationship; a stable work environment within the family; performing the work under the supervision of the employer and his/her family members, requiring to preserve and take care of the family's property and work tools; refraining from any verbal or physical assault towards the employer or any family members; maintaining household secrets and not disclosing them to others under any circumstances; not leaving work or working for themselves or for others without a legitimate justification, in addition to commitment to respecting the Islamic religion and applicable regulations in the Kingdom, taking into account the customs and traditions of Saudi society and the associated values and public morals.

The employer shall bear a set of legal obligations aimed at ensuring a fair contractual relationship with the domestic worker, foremost among which is concluding an official employment contract in accordance with the mechanisms approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, with the commitment to provide suitable housing and food or pay a financial allowance for them.

The employer is obligated to enable the worker to communicate with his family in a normal manner, issue and renew residency and legal licenses at his own expense, and the necessity of paying the monthly wage regularly in accordance with what is stipulated in the contract.

Providing health care to the worker, in addition to granting them daily rest hours and the legally prescribed vacations, and not assigning the worker any work that threatens their health or violates their human dignity.

The regulations governing domestic workers set clear and strict penalties, aimed at deterring any violations. In the event that the employer violates the regulations, they will face a financial fine that may reach up to SR20,000, in addition to the possibility of being banned from recruiting for a period of up to three years. The ban may be extended to become permanent in some cases, with the penalty doubled in the event of a repeat of the violation.