In a new regulatory step aimed at developing the local labor market, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia announced the launch of the "Absence from Work" service through the unified national recruitment platform, "Musaned." This service comes within the framework of the Contractual Relationship Improvement Initiative, through which the Ministry seeks to protect the rights of all parties, whether employers or domestic workers.

Service objectives and its operational mechanism

The ministry explained that the new service primarily aims to facilitate and empower individual employers to terminate the contractual relationship smoothly and systematically in the event of a domestic worker's absence from work. The service, accessible through the "Musaned" platform, offers two main procedures that ensure fairness and transparency: "Termination of Contract Due to Absence from Work" and "Labor Transfer Service.".

Time limits and procedures

The ministry has established precise time limits for dealing with cases of work absence, based on the length of the worker's stay in the Kingdom:

• During the first two years: If the employment contract is terminated due to the employee's absence within the first two years of entering the Kingdom, they must leave permanently within a period not exceeding 60 days. Failure to leave will be considered a violation of the residency and labor laws.
• After two years: If a domestic worker's stay exceeds two years, the worker has the option of either leaving permanently or transferring to a new employer (transfer of services) within 60 days of the date of termination. If their status is not rectified, they will be considered absent from work and in violation of regulations.

Context of the initiative and its importance to the labor market

This step comes as an extension of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's ongoing efforts to regulate the recruitment and domestic worker sector. The "Musaned" platform is one of the key technological pillars the Kingdom relies on to ensure transparency in recruitment and contracting processes. This service is of paramount importance as it addresses one of the most significant challenges employers faced: the ambiguity of procedures when a worker was absent, which could expose them to legal or financial liabilities.

This decision also reflects the Kingdom's commitment to human rights standards and international agreements, as it grants workers the opportunity to rectify their status or transfer to another employer (in specific cases), instead of the previous traditional procedures that completely restricted job mobility upon reporting absence. This contributes to raising the efficiency of the labor market, reducing reliance on undocumented workers, and enhancing the attractiveness of the work environment in the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to build a flexible and competitive labor market.

In conclusion, the ministry affirmed that these measures will contribute to improving the quality of services provided, raising the level of compliance with regulations, and ensuring a safe and stable contractual environment for all concerned parties.

In a move reflecting significant regional confidence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's development experience, the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction elected the Kingdom to chair the Council's Executive Bureau for the next two years (2026-2027). This announcement was made during the Council's 42nd session, hosted by Doha, Qatar, and attended by a select group of ministers and officials responsible for the housing sector in the Arab world.

Saudi leadership in the housing sector

This selection is a culmination of the Kingdom's significant efforts in recent years within the framework of Vision 2030, during which the housing sector has witnessed radical transformations and qualitative leaps that have contributed to increasing homeownership rates and developing sustainable urban environments. The Kingdom's assumption of this position is seen as a valuable opportunity to share its pioneering experience in partnership with the private sector, digital transformation of real estate services, and diverse housing support programs with other Arab countries, thereby enhancing the efficiency of Arab real estate markets.

2026 theme: Community resilience

In a related development, the Council adopted the Saudi proposal for the slogan of Arab Housing Day 2026, entitled: “Community Resilience: Building Adaptable Societies.” This slogan carries profound implications that align with current global challenges, emphasizing the need to plan cities capable of withstanding climate change, economic fluctuations, and social transformations. The slogan aims to guide the Arab world towards adopting the concepts of urban sustainability, not only in terms of green building, but also through creating a resilient urban fabric that ensures a high quality of life for residents under all circumstances.

Strengthening joint Arab action

The Kingdom, through its chairmanship of the Executive Bureau, is set to lead a broad movement to support joint Arab cooperation initiatives. Efforts will focus on unifying visions regarding real estate legislation and exchanging technical expertise in modern urban planning. Under the umbrella of the League of Arab States, the Council also seeks to bridge the gap between supply and demand in Arab markets and provide affordable housing solutions that meet the needs of the region's rapidly growing population.

The importance of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction

It is worth noting that the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction is one of the specialized ministerial councils operating under the umbrella of the League of Arab States. The Council's primary objectives are to foster cooperation among member states in the housing and reconstruction sectors, prepare studies and research that address housing issues, and standardize building codes and technical specifications—a task on which much is expected in the coming phase to achieve comprehensive Arab economic and urban integration.