RIYADH – Saudi Arabia announced new rules to protect the rights of domestic helpers. The new regulations approved by the Council of Ministers, which met Monday night, would bring about dramatic positive developments in the Kingdom's domestic help sector. Minister of Labor Adel Fakieh said on Tuesday that 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,” Fakieh said. 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. Fakieh 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. According to the new regulations, the domestic helper shall complete a probation period of not more than three months during which the employer can assess his or her performance and behavior. The regulations also stipulate that 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. A domestic helper does not have the right to reject a work, or leave a job, without a valid reason. It is also the duty of the domestic helper to ensure the safety of the properties of the employer and family members, and not harm anyone of them, especially children and the aged. Workers are also required to keep secrets of the household. They have no right to do any other work for their personal benefits or engage in any activities that are harmful to the family. Fakieh said that 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. Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said after the Cabinet session that the regulations will create a mechanism for the settlement and adjudication of financial claims arising between domestic helpers and employers and irregularities which are of non-criminal nature, through committees to be set up for this purpose by the Minister of Labor.
