Saudi Arabia has announced a six-month extension of the grace period allowing domestic workers with irregular legal status to regularise their situation. The move, effective from Tuesday, 11 November, forms part of the Kingdom’s broader labour market reforms and aims to protect the rights of workers and employers alike.
Extension of grace period
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) confirmed that the grace period will enable domestic workers reported as absent from their employment, known locally as huroob, to correct their legal status. This extension applies exclusively to workers whose abscondment was reported prior to the announcement.The previous grace period was introduced on 11 May 2025 and lasted six months. Workers and employers were given that period to regularise abscondment cases and expired residency permits through the official processes. The current extension follows the same framework, providing an additional opportunity for those still residing in the Kingdom.
Regularisation through Musaned
All procedures for correcting status will continue to be administered through Musaned, the Ministry’s official digital platform for household employment services. Musaned allows new employers to complete transfer procedures electronically, thereby streamlining the process, enhancing transparency, and safeguarding the rights of both domestic workers and their employers.According to the ministry, the platform facilitates automated transfers and supports a smoother adjustment of contractual relationships. It ensures that domestic workers whose residency permits have expired or who were previously reported absent can regularise their status by transferring services to new sponsors after completing the required procedures.
Objectives of the initiative
The ministry emphasised that this measure forms part of ongoing efforts to develop the domestic labour sector and strengthen labour market regulations. The initiative aims to:
- Improve contractual relationships between domestic workers and employers.
- Enhance fairness, safety, and opportunity within the Saudi labour market.
- Provide a transparent mechanism for correcting irregular employment status without imposing penalties.
By allowing electronic transfers via Musaned, the ministry seeks to modernise the management of domestic labour, improve the work environment, and ensure the protection of both parties’ rights.This extension aligns with Saudi Arabia’s wider labour reform agenda, which prioritises regulated employment, contractual clarity, and the protection of worker rights. Domestic workers who remain in the Kingdom after absconding from their original sponsors now have a clear, structured path to legal regularisation, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fair and transparent labour practices.Musaned, launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, serves as the cornerstone of these efforts, providing a centralised, automated platform for managing household employment and promoting equitable treatment for both employers and employees.
