The Musaned domestic workers services platform has announced that starting July 1, 2024, the salary of domestic workers coming to Saudi Arabia for the first time will be deposited in their digital wallet. The platform, which operates under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), has made it clear that only the employer will be able to transfer the salary at the end of each Hijri year. This digital transfer of salary can take place after the issuance of the residency permit (iqama) for the domestic worker and completion of the necessary documentation procedures.
The Musaned platform has emphasized that the employer’s wife or family members are not authorized to make the digital transfer of salaries on behalf of the workers. This is because all the data of the workers are digitally linked with the employer. The new service also allows for the transfer of an advance salary, advance payment of a portion of the salary, and the ability to deduct or increase the salary to the digital wallet of the workers. By transferring wages through electronic channels, cash transactions are reduced, the work environment for domestic workers is improved, and the process of paying salaries becomes quicker, easier, and more reliable.
According to the platform, the wage agreed upon by both parties in the labor contract must be adhered to by the employer and paid at the end of each Hijri month, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, while adhering to the regulations and instructions regarding wage protection. The possibility of transferring salaries of domestic workers through banks is also mentioned, with the Musaned revealing that if the worker falls under the category obligated to the Wage Protection Program, the transfer must be made through approved channels, including banks. However, if the worker is not part of the obligated category, the employer can choose to pay wages in cash or by check, with documentation through the domestic worker’s payroll card.
The overall goal of the transfer via the Domestic Worker Salaries icon is to ensure the preservation of the financial rights of both domestic workers and employers. This process enables employers to transfer monthly salaries through payment channels linked to the Wage Protection Initiative and to also save their salaries on the Musaned platform. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development established the Musaned platform as its official website for household services and the home employment program, outlining the rights and duties of both workers and employers. This initiative is part of the efforts to develop the recruitment sector in the Kingdom, providing multiple services to improve and facilitate the recruitment journey, resolve complaints and disputes between parties, and protect their rights. Last year, the ministry introduced the transfer of service of domestic workers between individual employers through the Musaned platform.
In conclusion, the Musaned domestic workers services platform is implementing new measures to ensure the smooth and secure transfer of salaries for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. By utilizing digital wallets and electronic channels, the platform aims to protect the financial rights of both workers and employers, while also improving the overall work environment for domestic workers. These initiatives are part of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s efforts to modernize the recruitment sector in the Kingdom and provide a comprehensive and efficient system for managing domestic workers’ salaries and employment agreements.
