Mandatory electronic salary transfers for all domestic workers take effect in Saudi

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said the mandatory electronic transfer of salaries for all domestic workers came into effect on Thursday, Jan. 1.

Under the decision, wages must be paid through the Musaned platform, which records salary transfers via approved banks and digital wallets. The ministry said the system is intended to protect the wage-related rights of domestic workers and improve transparency in contractual relationships between workers and employers.

The move marks the fifth and final phase of the electronic wage transfer program, which now applies to all domestic workers and is mandatory for all employers without exception.

The first phase of the program began on July 1, 2024, and applied to domestic workers arriving in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The second phase, launched in January 2025, covered employers with four or more domestic workers. The third phase, introduced in July 2025, applied to those employing three or more domestic workers, while the fourth phase, which came into effect on Oct. 1, 2025, targeted employers with two or more domestic workers.

The ministry said the measure forms part of broader efforts to regulate the labor market and enhance digital services for beneficiaries. It added that the initiative supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, including improving market efficiency, strengthening the work environment and promoting fairness and stability in contractual relationships.