Conditions for expatriate workers to change job without employer’s consent

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRD) has announced eight conditions under which expat workers can change jobs without needing approval from their current employer. These rules are part of new labor reforms aimed at ending the sponsorship system for foreign workers and improving the relationship between expat workers and their employers.

The ministry clarified that the transfer service won’t have any additional costs beyond what is already required and will not affect existing visas, as long as the current procedures are followed.

8 Conditions for Expats to Change Job Without Consent

Here are the eight conditions that allow expat workers to transfer jobs without their employer’s consent:

1. If the worker does not have a signed work contract within three months of arriving in Saudi Arabia.
2. If the employer has not paid the worker’s wages for three consecutive months.
3. If the employer is unavailable due to travel, imprisonment, death, or any other reason.
4. If the worker’s Iqama or work permit has expired.
5. If the worker reports their employer for business license fraud (tasattur), as long as the worker is not involved in the fraud.
6. If the worker has proof that their employer is involved in human trafficking.
7. If there is a labor dispute, and the employer fails to attend two legal hearings or settlement meetings after being informed of the dates.
8. If the employer has officially stated that they want the worker to leave.

These conditions allow workers more freedom to move to new jobs under certain circumstances without needing permission from their current employers. Also read: How to Calculate End-of-Service Benefits (ESB) in Saudi Arabia