Jeddah: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced that the decision to apply the levy to house drivers and other domestic workers has come into effect in Saudi Arabia. Domestic workers with more than four domestic workers and foreigners with more than two workers must pay the levy. The first phase of the two-phase project started today.
According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the ministry has decided to apply the levy to domestic workers, including house drivers. Indigenous people with more than four domestic workers and foreigners with more than two employees will have to pay the levy. The levy is 9600 riyals per year or 800 riyals per month per worker. The decision will be implemented in two stages. In the first phase, which started on Sunday, the levy will be payable only to workers coming on a new domestic visa.
That too only if there are more than four employees under the sponsor. Currently, the levy is applicable to domestic workers in the country only after one year. They will have to pay the levy from May 13, 2023. Officials announced yesterday that they were making major reforms in the labor laws for domestic workers.
The levy was introduced after that. Although the levy was mandatory for foreigners and later dependents in Saudi Arabia from January 2018, the levy did not apply to domestic workers.
That is why many foreigners come to Saudi Arabia on domestic visas, including house drivers. If there are more than four domestic workers under the sponsor, all of them will have to pay the levy after one year. However, now that house drivers are allowed to change professions, more secure jobs can be found.