Expatriates in Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to recruit domestic workers from their own nationalities

Expatriates in Saudi Arabia will not be permitted to hire domestic staff of their own nationality. According to the Musaned platform for domestic labour services, run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the recruiting restrictions ban expats from seeking for a visa to hire domestic workers of the same nationality as themselves.

Musaned said this in response to a question submitted via its X platform. According to the portal, expatriates can hire housekeepers of another nationality. It asked expatriates to review the rules and regulations for recruiting, as well as the financial capacity necessary to get visas, by accessing the following link: https://musaned.com.sa/terms/faq_reg. The minimum pay for an expatriate employee is SR10000 for the first time a recruiting visa is issued, with proof of financial ability provided by providing a bank document worth SR100000. If a second visa is issued, the minimum wage for a resident employee must be SR20000, and proof of financial ability must be provided by providing a bank balance statement of SR200000.

Expatriates and others must demonstrate financial capability with a certificate issued by the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) about the monthly pay statement, provided that the period does not exceed 60 days from the day the visa application is submitted. The Musaned platform has been formed as the ministry's official website for household services and home employment programmes, and it offers a variety of services to streamline and expedite the recruiting process. The programme monitors and develops the sector of domestic workers.