Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has once again stopped the service for transferring the sponsorship of domestic workers to firms, four months after the ministry had launched the service.

The ministry has also rolled back its decision to exempt establishments, which were set up before 25/8/1440H and were eligible for exemption from the workers’ fees for four workers for a period of five years from the date they were established provided their owners work in their establishments and have more than nine employees.

The ministry said that the decision granting exemption benefit for four workers for the remaining years has been canceled. However, it will be included in the new decision to exempt the establishments from only two workers for a period of three years, or 4 workers if the owner of the facility works full-time in his establishment along with another Saudi employee.

The Ministry of Human Resources had stipulated, during the past period, that the residence permits (iqama) of domestic workers wishing to benefit from the service will not be renewed for “more than a year”.

If the domestic worker’s residence permit has been renewed more than a year ago, his request for transferring his services to a facility will not be accepted (because domestic workers are exempt from workers’ fees), while the ministry will not provide the service for transferring the worker from a firm to an individual.

The ministry has allotted a consent form for the domestic worker for transferring his services to the facility while changing his profession at the Ministry of Labor.

The form has spaces for filling the name of the worker and his iqamah number, his approval for transfer and that he will not start working for his new employer until the transfer process is completed, and only after amending his profession to the one required. The worker will then sign the form and put his thumbprint. In addition, the undertaking or declaration will be translated for non-Arabic speakers, along with the name of the facility, the file number, the name and signature of the official, and the establishment's seal.