Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has decided to impose a levy on foreign domestic workers, including house drivers. There is currently a levy for foreign workers in the private sector in the country. The levy decision applies if there are more than four domestic workers under the Saudi citizen and more than two domestic workers under the sponsorship of a foreigner residing in the country. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Saudi cabinet, according to the Ministry of Human Resources.
If the number of domestic workers is more than four, their native employer has to pay a levy of 9600 riyals (about two lakh rupees) per annum. The same law applies to a foreign employer with more than two domestic workers. However, the committee formed in connection with the determination of this levy has granted exemption in some cases. The levy does not apply to domestic workers hired for such work in cases where people in need of specialized medical care require humanitarian consideration, such as care for the disabled. The ministry said the new law would be implemented in two phases.
The first phase will be from May 22 this year and the second phase from May 13, 2023. The levy is applicable to new domestic workers in the first phase. In the second phase, the levy will be applicable to all existing and new domestic workers in the country, the ministry said. Currently, the levy applies to private sector employees and their dependents in Saudi Arabia. The levy is 800 riyals (Rs. 16,000) per month for them and 400 riyals (Rs. 8000) for dependents. In July 2014, the levy was first applied to foreign workers in the private sector in the country. In July 2017, the levy came into effect for dependents as well. Now the levy is also on foreign domestic workers in the country.