Domestic Worker Protections in Saudi Arabia
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Domestic workers (housemaids, drivers, gardeners, cooks, nannies) have specific protections — and a separate regulatory framework from the LRI-covered private sector:
- Written contract: Employers must provide a written contract in a language the worker understands, specifying wages, duties, working hours, and rest days. The Musaned platform generates standardised contracts.
- Wages: Monthly salary must be paid on time. The contract specifies the amount and payment method.
- Rest days: Domestic workers are entitled to at least one day off per week.
- Passport retention is criminal: Employers cannot confiscate the worker's passport — this is a criminal offence punishable by fine and potential imprisonment.
- 9-hour rest: Workers must get at least 9 continuous hours of rest per day.
- Musaned platform: All domestic worker recruitment must go through the Musaned platform — this system tracks contracts, wages, and complaints.
When does it apply?
- You are a domestic worker employed in a Saudi household.
- Your employer is withholding your passport, not paying wages, or denying rest days.
- You are an employer hiring through Musaned and need to understand your legal obligations.
What to Do If Your Employer Confiscated Your Passport or Is Not Paying Your Wages as a Domestic Worker in Saudi Arabia
- Keep your passport in your possession — if your employer takes it, this is a crime you can report immediately.
- If your employer confiscates your passport, report it to the police (call 911) or the MHRSD hotline (19911).
- If wages are unpaid, file a complaint through Musaned or the MHRSD portal.
- Contact your embassy for assistance — many embassies in Riyadh have dedicated domestic worker protection desks.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not hand over your passport to your employer — the law explicitly protects your right to retain it.
- Do not leave the employer's household without filing a complaint first — "absconding" (leaving without proper legal steps) can result in deportation, re-entry bans, and loss of wage claims. File through Musaned or MHRSD instead.
- Do not accept work without a Musaned-registered contract — an unregistered arrangement leaves you with no legal protection.
Common Questions
When does it apply — domestic worker protections?
You are a domestic worker employed in a Saudi household.Your employer is withholding your passport, not paying wages, or denying rest days.You are an employer hiring through Musaned and need to understand your legal obligations.
What should I do if my employer took my passport or is not paying me as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia?
Keep your passport in your possession — if your employer takes it, this is a crime you can report immediately.If your employer confiscates your passport, report it to the police (call 911) or the MHRSD hotline (19911).If wages are unpaid, file a complaint through Musaned or the MHRSD portal.Contact your embassy for assistance — many embassies in Riyadh have dedicated domestic worker protection desks.
What should you NOT do — domestic worker protections?
Do not hand over your passport to your employer — the law explicitly protects your right to retain it.Do not leave the employer's household without filing a complaint first — "absconding" (leaving without proper legal steps) can result in deportation, re-entry bans, and loss of wage claims. File through Musaned or MHRSD instead.Do not accept work without a Musaned-registered contract — an unregistered arrangement leaves you with no legal protection.