In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has updated controls, regulations, and procedures for workers who are absent from work (Huroob).
The Ministry is working towards improving the contractual relationship between workers and employers, preserving both parties' rights, and increasing the attractiveness and flexibility of the labor market in the Kingdom.
Employee Absent From Work controls have been updated as follows.
- After the employer submits a request to terminate the contractual relationship due to the worker's absence in work, his data ceases to be linked to the company, and his status will be updated to "Discontinued" in the ministry's systems and the current employer will not be charged.
- The worker has the right to move to another employer within the period of 60 days, or to make a final exit. If the expat worker fails to take either of those options within 60 days, the ministry's systems and regulations will update the worker's status as "Absent From Work."
When expat workers have been reported to Absent From Work before the date of this update, employers will be allowed to transfer their services to their companies if their status is "Absent From Work." When the worker's services are transferred to him, the late fees on his record will be transferred to the new employer, with the condition that the worker agrees to that transfer.
If the transfer of expat worker's service is not completed within 15 days of the approval by the ministry, the expat's status will remain "Absent From Work
- These measures come within the ministry's efforts to protect the right of workers and employers and are part of efforts to make the Saudi labor market more efficient and attractive, including the Wage Protection System, the initiative to improve contractual relationships, and the wadi program.
SOURCE : SAUDI EXPATRIATES
