Minister granted authority to regulate work permits for expatriate dependents

At a glance

• Saudi Arabia’s highest authorities have granted the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development new powers to regulate employment of dependents of legal foreign workers.
• The minister is authorised to determine eligible economic activities and professions for dependent workers, set employment regulations, and establish financial fees for dependent work permits.
• The total fees collected for each dependent entering the workforce will match those applied to foreign workers in the private sector.
• The fee structure will be determined in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Non-Oil Revenue Development Centre.

Saudi Arabia’s highest authorities have granted the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development new powers to regulate employment of dependents of legal foreign workers in the kingdom. The new directive authorises the minister to determine eligible economic activities and professions for dependent workers, set employment regulations in coordination with relevant government agencies, and establish financial fees for dependent work permits. Under the new framework, the total fees collected for each dependent entering the workforce will match those applied to foreign workers in the private sector. The fee structure will be determined in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Non-Oil Revenue Development Centre.