Saudi Arabia rolls out updated policies for foreign workers

 Employers have until June 30 to either renew expired work permits or transfer employees' services.

 Starting July 1, Saudi Arabia's Qiwa platform will begin removing workers from company records if their work permits have been expired for more than three months.

According to the platform, the deregistration process will be carried out automatically.

Despite the removal of workers from company records, employers will remain liable for any outstanding fees and financial obligations accumulated during the period the employees stayed without valid work permits.

Qiwa has advised employers to complete the necessary procedures before the deadline, stressing that renewing work permits or transferring employee services is the only way to avoid the automatic removal process.

They also clarified that workers will not be removed from company records if their residency permits remain valid for at least 180 days, even if their employers are unable to renew their work permits.

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However, if a worker's residency permit has fewer than 180 days remaining, employers must renew both the residency and work permits before the deadline to avoid automatic removal from company records.

Qiwa further warned that workers whose permits have remained expired for more than three months will be automatically deregistered from company records. Employers are also required to settle any outstanding fees and update employee records to avoid penalties or potential legal consequences.