According to the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment in Islamabad, the updated labour laws will apply to all foreign workers in Saudi Arabia. The new rules mainly focus on leave, attendance, and contract compliance.

Under the revised system, workers travelling to Saudi Arabia for employment must be at least 21 years old. Employees are also required to strictly follow the terms of their job contracts.

The regulations further state that workers who do not return on time after annual leave will be marked as absent. If a worker remains absent for 30 consecutive days or accumulates 60 days of irregular absence, their employment contract may be terminated.

Officials said the purpose of these changes is to improve discipline in the workforce and ensure better enforcement of labour laws across the Kingdom.

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Pakistani authorities have advised workers to complete all legal documentation before travelling and to fully understand the new rules to avoid problems during employment.

The development comes after increased enforcement of labour and residency laws in Saudi Arabia. Recent reports show that the Saudi General Directorate of Passports issued over 15,000 administrative decisions within a month related to violations of residency, labour, and border regulations.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, these actions apply to both citizens and foreign residents, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation for serious violations.