Saudi Arabia Enforces Digital Wage Payments for All Domestic Workers

Saudi Arabia has officially implemented mandatory electronic salary transfers for all domestic workers, effective Thursday, January 1. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) confirmed that employers are now required to pay domestic workers’ wages electronically through the Musaned platform.

Under the new requirement, salary payments must be documented via approved banks or authorized digital wallets. The ministry stated that the move represents a major step toward protecting domestic workers’ wage rights while strengthening transparency and accountability in the contractual relationship between employers and workers.

This development marks the fifth and final phase of the electronic wage transfer rollout, making the system mandatory for all types of domestic workers and applicable to all employers without exception. The phased implementation began on July 1, 2024, initially covering domestic workers arriving in the Kingdom for the first time.

Subsequent phases expanded the scope gradually. The second phase, launched in January 2025, applied to employers with four or more domestic workers, followed by the third phase in July 2025, which covered employers with three or more domestic workers. The fourth phase came into effect on October 1, 2025, targeting employers with two or more domestic workers, before culminating in full nationwide enforcement.

The ministry emphasized that the initiative is part of broader efforts to regulate the labor market and enhance digital services for beneficiaries. By standardizing wage payments through official channels, the system aims to reduce disputes, ensure timely payments, and promote fair labor practices.

HRSD noted that the mandatory electronic salary transfer aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in improving market efficiency, enhancing the work environment, and fostering fairness and stability in contractual relationships across the Kingdom’s labor sector.