Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The Ministry of Labor has urged Saudis and their domestic workers to strictly abide by the new regulations that define rights and duties of both parties. The regulations, approved by the Council of Ministers on July 15, have come into force from Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday. Ziyadh Al-Sayegh, Deputy Minister for customer services and labor relations, said that the bylaw of the regulations contain 23 Articles that clearly define all the aspects pertaining to the relationship between domestic helpers and their sponsors, besides protecting rights of each parties. He said that there is a provision in the bylaw by which the employer can put the domestic helpers under a probation period of not more than three months during which he or she can assess their performance and behavior.
Al-Sayegh said the employer has no right to compel domestic helpers to do a job that does not come under the purview of the labor contract. The regulations also prevent the employer from forcing the worker to do any jobs that are harmful to his/her health. Employers should respect the workers' honor and not compel them to work under anyone else.
At the same time, he said, domestic helpers must respect Islam and its teachings, and obey the orders of the employers and their family members concerning getting the agreed work done. Also, a domestic helper does not have the right to reject a work, or leave a job, without a valid reason. Al-Sayegh said the new rules require employers to pay domestic helpers the agreed monthly salary without delay, and give them a day off each week. “Employers are also required to provide domestic helpers with suitable accommodations, as well as granting them time to rest for at least nine hours each day. Under the new guidelines, workers are entitled to paid sick leave and a one-month paid vacation after putting in two years of work as well as end of service compensation equal to one month salary after four years,” he said. According to Al-Sayegh, there are provisions in the bylaw to punish violating employer or domestic helper. If the employer commits a violation, he will face one year recruitment ban or SR2,000 in fine or both. In case of repetition of the violation for a second time, the fine will be increased to SR5,000 in addition to a three-year recruitment ban. If the violation is committed for a third time, permanent recruitment ban will be imposed and fines will be doubled. In case of violation of any provision of the regulations, a fine of SR2,000 will be imposed against the worker besides a ban on working in the Kingdom. The worker shall also bear the cost of final exit trip, he added.
