Rights of Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia
End-of-Service Benefits
- Household workers are entitled to End of Service Benefits calculated as one month’s salary for every four consecutive years of service (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 16).
Contract Rights
- Every domestic helper has the right to an employment contract specifying:
- Monthly salary.
- Job responsibilities.
- Probation period duration.
- Rights and obligations of both parties.
- Contract duration and extension terms (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 4).
Agreed-upon Work
- Domestic workers have the right to refuse tasks not specified in their contract, including those posing health or safety risks (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 2).
Payment of Salary
- Employers must pay the agreed-upon wage at the end of each Hijri month unless otherwise stated in the contract (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 7(3)).
Deduction of Salary
- Salary deductions are permissible for damages, advances, or by court order but cannot exceed half of the monthly wage (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 9).
Working Conditions
- Domestic helpers must receive a minimum of nine hours of rest daily (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 7(6)).
Weekly Rest Day
- All domestic workers are entitled to one day off each week (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 8).
Sick Leave
- Domestic workers are eligible for 30 days of paid sick leave annually, supported by a medical report (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 11).
Medical Care
- Complete medical care is provided to domestic workers in accordance with Saudi regulations (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 12).
Housing
- Suitable housing arrangements are provided for household workers (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 7(5)).
Annual Leave
- Domestic workers earn one month of paid annual leave after two years of service (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 10).
Probation Period
- A probation period, not exceeding ninety days, may be agreed upon by both parties, allowing termination without penalty (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 5).
Final Exit Ticket
- Employers are responsible for covering all costs, including the final exit ticket, if the contract expires or is terminated illegally (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 15).
Transfer of Sponsorship
- Procedures for transferring sponsorship of domestic workers are outlined in the Regulations for Domestic Workers.
Death of the Employer
- In case of the employer’s death, the contract expires, giving the domestic worker the option to continue with the family or leave on a final exit visa (Regulations for Domestic Workers, Article 14).