Department of protection and support for domestic workers

The Department of Protection and Support for Domestic Workers has become one of the most important pillars that employers and families rely on to preserve rights and ensure a safe and stable work environment away from the problems that occur due to conflict over rights. With the great need for domestic workers, the importance of having a legal institution that protects the rights of domestic workers and employers, provides them with the necessary support, and provides a comfortable working environment has increased.

What is the Department of Protection and Support for Domestic Workers?

The Department of Protection and Support for Domestic Workers is an organization that includes a set of regulations, laws and regulations that it has establishedMinistry of Human Resources and Social DevelopmentTo preserve the rights of domestic workers and employers, regulate the relationship between them, and provide a safe and comfortable work environment. This organization also works to follow up employment contracts, supervises the recruitment of workers, provides the necessary legal support to ensure the continuity of the contract, and receives complaints related to abuse and breach of contract terms to preserve the rights of all parties.

How is an amicable settlement for domestic workers carried out?

The Ministry of Human Resources provides the amicable settlement service as the first stage of considering dispute claims between the worker and the employer. This electronic service aims to bring the viewpoints closer between the worker and the employer, resolve disputes between them, and reach a solution that satisfies both parties if possible. If a solution is not reached, litigation is resorted to before the labor court.

 The amicable settlement of domestic workers takes place in two stagesThey are:

1- The amicable settlement stage 

The complainant, whether the worker or the employer, submits an electronic labor lawsuit through the Ministry of Human Resources portal, and the competent committees provide amicable solutions to resolve the dispute within a period not exceeding 5 days and find a solution that satisfies both parties.

2- The judicial settlement stage 

If it is not possible to reach a solution that satisfies both parties in an amicable manner, the competent committee shall issue a decision resolving the dispute existing between them within 10 days, and the aggrieved party may have the right to object before the Board of Grievances in accordance with the statutory procedures.

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How to file a domestic worker lawsuit

You can contact the Gazelle office to carry out all procedures for filing a lawsuit on your behalf, orYou can follow these steps:

• Log in via the electronic services portal.
• If the plaintiff is an individual, he must log in through the individuals portal, and if he is an establishment, he must log in through the establishments portal.
• The friendly settlement service is chosen, which is (filing a lawsuit).
• Fill out the invitation page with the required data, such as the plaintiff’s data, the competent settlement office, the defendant’s data, and the employment relationship data.
• He then determines the subject of the case and attaches all the required documents accurately.
• After reviewing the request, agree to a declaration that the lawsuit is not malicious.
• Click the Submit button to file the claim.
• After the case is reviewed by the competent authorities and accepted, a text message is sent to both parties containing all the details along with the date of the session.

What is a friendly complaints system?

It is an electronic system affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources to resolve labor disputes before they reach the judiciary through amicable settlement sessions. The system allows the worker and the employer to register and follow up on complaints, and manage settlement sessions to end disputes faster. If reconciliation is not possible, the case is transferred electronically to the labor court to guarantee the rights of both parties.

The role of the Labor Office in providing protection and support to domestic workers

The Labor Office plays an essential and clear role in protecting domestic workers by providing regulatory tasks that aim to preserve the rights of both parties and create a safe work environment.Here is the role of the labor office:

• Follow up on the work system after the contract, ensure that salaries are paid on time, and give the worker her rights.
• Resolving problems and disputes that occur between the worker and the employer due to mistreatment, escape, or late payment of salaries, and trying to find a solution that satisfies both parties in an amicable manner or resorting to the judiciary.
• Finding solutions that preserve the rights of both parties without violating the rights of any of them.
• Both parties are obligated to respect and appreciate the rights of the other party.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is responsible for domestic workers?

The first and main responsibility for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia is the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which sets laws and regulations governing the preservation of workers’ rights.

What is the penalty for employing a domestic worker in a profession other than his profession?

In the event that a domestic worker is employed in a profession other than his profession, the sponsor faces harsh penalties, including a fine that may reach 100 thousand Saudi riyals, as well as imprisonment for a period of 6 months, and denial of recruitment for long periods.

What is the penalty for employing a worker without a contract?

The penalty may be a fine of up to 5,000 Saudi riyals, increasing if the matter is repeated.

How can I inquire about a domestic worker?

You can inquire about a domestic worker through several electronic methods, through which you can inquire about everything related to the worker.

1- Inquire about a domestic worker through Absher

It is possible to inquire through Absher about the domestic worker’s data in simple stepsWhich are:

• Log in to the Absher platform.
• From the main menu you can access (My Services).
• Then choose the Inquiries button, then click (Inquire about expatriate workers).
• Then enter the residence number.
• Then you will see all the worker’s data.

2- Inquire about the domestic worker via Musaned 

The worker’s status can be inquired about through the platformSupports With the following steps:

• Log in to the Musaned platform.
• Then go to the requests list.
• Then the status of the request appears, as well as the worker’s details.

3- Inquire about a domestic worker through the Ministry of Human Resources 

The Ministry of Human Resources can be contacted through customer service, as the Ministry has set a number through which you can contact for inquiriesAbout the following:

• Worker’s record.
• The worker’s legal status.
• Violations and cases recorded against the worker.
• There are reports of escape.
• Contract status.

4- Inquire about a domestic worker through the recruitment office 

Upon completion of the recruitment contract, the approved recruitment office gives the employer all the information and data related to the worker.Among them:

• Domestic worker data.
• Details of the recruitment contract.
• Agreed contract terms.
• The worker’s arrival time.

Is there a status correction for domestic workers?

Yes, there is now an initiative in the Kingdom to rectify the situation of domestic workers, which is done through the Musaned platform to allow the transfer of domestic worker services from one employer to another employer while improving their legal status.

The Department of Protection and Support for Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia is one of the best systems that has preserved the rights of expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia in full without any loss, which made there amicable solutions between the worker and the employer before submitting the complaint to the judiciary, which reduces conflicts.