Saudi Arabia’s New Rule Stops Employers from Instantly Firing Staff
Saudi Arabia has just introduced a new and groundbreaking policy through its Qiwa platform, offering international employees a 60-day buffer zone after their employment agreements come to an end. This significant change prevents employers from immediately reporting a worker as “absent from work,” providing a crucial two-month period for individuals to sort out their next steps.
Starting on July 31, 2025, this updated rule provides workers with a much-needed opportunity to find a new company, get re-hired by their old one, or depart the country legally. The only condition is that their Iqama (residency permit) must still be valid for this entire 60-day duration. In the past, a company could instantly declare a worker as absent the moment their contract was terminated. Now, with this new digital policy, employers must wait a full two months. This is a major step toward creating a more balanced and fair system for both workers and companies, especially during the often stressful time after a job ends.
Key Features of the New Regulation:
- Extended Protection: Employers are now required to wait 60 days before they can officially report a worker as absent, as long as the worker’s Iqama is valid for that whole period.
- Digital Management: The entire process is handled online through the Qiwa platform, which is directly connected to the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Interior for seamless coordination.
- Validity Check: If a worker’s Iqama is due to expire in less than 60 days, the employer cannot use the new absence reporting feature. This ensures the rule is only applied to those with a valid residency status.
What Can Foreign Workers Do Now?
This new two-month window gives international workers valuable time to make important career and life decisions. They can accept a new role by transferring their sponsorship to a different company using the Qiwa platform, negotiate to return to their previous job (if offered), or prepare to leave Saudi Arabia through the proper legal channels. If an individual does not take any of these actions within the 60-day timeframe, the system will automatically update their status to “absent from work,” remove them from the employer’s records, and notify the authorities.
