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The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has announced a six-month extension of the grace period to regularise the status of runaway domestic workers, effective from Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The process will continue to be managed through the Musaned platform, the ministry’s official system for domestic worker services.
Six months earlier, the ministry had introduced a similar grace period starting May 11, 2025, allowing domestic workers who were reported absent from work (known as huroob) to correct their legal status. The latest extension applies exclusively to workers reported absent before the new announcement date, a Saudi Gazette report said.
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The ministry said the move aims to give both domestic workers and employers an opportunity to correct their status through simplified, automated procedures on the Musaned platform. The system enables new employers to log in and complete the necessary transfer procedures, thereby improving the work environment and ensuring the protection of rights for both parties.
“This initiative comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to develop the domestic worker sector and enhance the contractual relationship between employers and employees,” the ministry said in a statement.
Through this program, domestic workers who were previously reported absent, whose residency permits have expired, or who remain in the kingdom illegally can now transfer their services to other employers after fulfilling the required procedures.
It is noteworthy that Musaned serves as the official digital hub for household services and home employment under the supervision of the MHRSD.
Fourth phase of salary transfer service launched
In a related development, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the launch of the fourth phase of its electronic salary transfer service for domestic workers through approved official platforms, effective October 1, 2025.
The initiative represents a major step in safeguarding salary rights and boosting financial transparency within the domestic worker sector. The ministry stated that this phase specifically targets employers with two or more domestic workers, continuing the gradual rollout of the system.
The programme began in January 2025 with the second phase covering employers of four or more workers, followed by the third phase in July 2025, which extended to employers with three or more. The service is expected to cover all domestic workers by January 1, 2026.
Enhancing transparency through digital payments
The electronic salary transfer service, operated through the Musaned platform, enables secure and traceable wage payments using official digital channels, such as licensed banks and approved digital wallets.
Key benefits include:
- Documenting regular salary payments to ensure compliance with employment contracts.
- Simplifying regulatory procedures when contracts end or workers travel home.
- Allowing seamless salary transfers to workers’ families in their home countries through verified, secure financial routes.
The ministry underscored that these reforms are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to modernise its labor ecosystem, ensure fair treatment for domestic workers, and strengthen employer accountability through digital transformation, a Saudi Press Agency report said.
The coordinated implementation of both the extended grace period and the salary transfer service demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to creating a more transparent, fair, and sustainable labor environment.
By combining legal flexibility with digital efficiency, the MHRSD continues to advance reforms that align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, fostering improved working conditions, promoting transparency, and enhancing worker welfare across the domestic employment sector.
