Saudi Arabia has announced that, starting January 1, 2026, the salaries of all domestic workers must be paid through banking channels as part of a broader effort to safeguard workers’ rights and formalize wage payments.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the move is the final stage of a gradually implemented wage protection system designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and timely salary disbursement. The initiative aims to reduce wage-related disputes while creating an official record of payments.
The first phase of the policy was introduced in July 2024 and applied to domestic workers entering the Kingdom on new visas. Under this phase, sponsors were required to transfer salaries directly into workers’ bank accounts. The second phase expanded the requirement to employers who hired more than four domestic workers.
In the third phase, which was initially planned for July 2025 but officially rolled out in October 2025, the regulation was extended to sponsors employing two or more domestic workers. With each phase, the scope of the policy widened to include a larger segment of the domestic labor sector.
The final phase, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, will make digital salary payments mandatory for all domestic workers, regardless of the number employed by a sponsor. This will ensure full nationwide coverage under the wage protection framework.
Officials said the system is intended to protect both workers and employers by ensuring salaries are paid on time, minimizing misunderstandings, and promoting fair labor practices. The ministry added that the initiative strengthens Saudi Arabia’s labor protection mechanisms and reinforces its commitment to improving employment standards within the domestic workforce.
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