Saudi Arabia’s ministry of Human Resource and Social Development has announced some major reforms in Saudi Arabia Labor Law regarding expatriates working in Saudi Arabia in private sector which is going to be implemented from March 2021.
Millions of Expats living and working in Saudi Arabia are eagerly waiting for enforcement of these labour reforms and they have many questions and concerns yet to fully understand the benefits of labor law reforms and how these changes to labor laws will impact expatriates.
In this post, we will explain some major points of labor reforms announced by Saudi Arabia labor ministry (ministry of Human Resource and Social Development).
Saudi Arabia Labor Law Reforms & Changes and Reforms Announced in 2020
Below are major points in Labour Reforms initiative announced which will be applicable from March 14, 2021 in Saudi Arabia:
- As per Labor Reforms initiatives, employees/workers will be able to switch jobs from one employer to another employer (one company to another company) without consent of current employer upon completion of the contract. This Labour reform initiative also provides options for job mobility during the contract by following the regulations, contract terms and serving notice period as per contract.
- This labour reform initiative also includes changes regarding Exit Re-entry visa issuance and it allows expatriate workers to apply for Exit Re-Entry visa at their own and employer will be notified through the platform about worker’s exit re-entry application. (More details yet to come about how employer will approve the request or how employer can reject or how much involvement of employer’s decision will be still applicable).
- Final Exit Visa reforms are also part of this reform initiative allowing a foreign worker to leave the country after contract completion without employer consent. Employer will be notified through the platform about worker’s final exit visa. Worker is supposed to abide by all rules and bear the consequences of any financial matters for breaking the contract terms (if any).
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development Launches Labor Reforms for Private Sector Workers. pic.twitter.com/5Xw4hvHeqt
— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية (@HRSD_SA) November 4, 2020
Please note that above Labour Law Reforms are for private sector and it is expected that millions of expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia will get benefit of these changes.
We will keep posting new updates on this site once available about this.