The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has introduced a new initiative, effective September 18, 2025, through the Qiwa platform, enabling professional workers who were previously reported as “absent from work” to legally transfer their sponsorship to a new employer.
According to the ministry, the program aims to protect contractual rights, enhance the attractiveness of Saudi Arabia’s labor market, and ensure compliance with labor regulations.
Who Can Benefit
The initiative covers several situations, including:
- Workers whose status changed to “absent from work” after the 60-day grace period due to nonattendance.
- Workers whose status changed after the expiration or termination of a documented contract.
- Expatriates with absence reports filed before September 18, 2025.
Key Conditions
To benefit from this initiative:
- The new employer must commit to paying any late work-permit fees owed by the worker.
- The worker must have completed at least 12 consecutive months in Saudi Arabia before leaving the previous job or before the contract expired.
Why It Matters
HRSD stated that the initiative is part of its ongoing labor market reforms, designed to provide fair solutions for both employers and employees, promote regulatory compliance, and create a more stable and competitive work environment in the Kingdom.