Press Release
PR- EBB - 47 - 2020
PCG Jeddah welcomes the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) launching of Labor Reform Initiative (LRI)
Jeddah, 4 November 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) launching of its Labor Reform Initiative (LRI) under the National Transformation Program (NTP). The LRI is designed to enhance the contractual relationship between workers and employers, and aims to support the Ministry’s vision of establishing an attractive job market, empowering and developing labor competencies, and developing the work environment in the Kingdom.
The LRI includes the following major reforms:
1. Employee/Job Mobility Reforms:
This will allow expatriate workers to transfer between employers upon the expiry of the binding work contract with the employer’s consent. LRI also outlines conditions applicable during the validity of the contract, provided a notice period and specific measures are adhered to.
2. Reforms on the Issuance of Exit/Re-Entry Visa:
This will allow expatriate workers to travel outside the kingdom without the employer’s approval after submitting a request; the employer will be notified electronically of their departure.
3. Final Exit Visa Reforms
It allows expatriate workers to leave the Kingdom after the end of the employment contract without the employer’s consent, and will notify the employer electronically with the worker bearing all consequences, financial or otherwise, relating to breaking the employment contract.
These reforms will be made available to the public through the Absher and Qiwa apps of the MHRSD. These are applicable to all expatriate workers in the private sector (Note: It is still not clear whether the Household Service Workers or Kasambahay are included.) and will include specific control measures put in place to take into account the rights of both parties of the contractual relationship.
The target date for the implementation of these reforms is on 14 March 2021.
The MHRSD’s announcement may be accessed via its official Twitter Account at:
https://mobile.twitter.com/HRSD_SA/status/1323913000395427840
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