The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that the deadline for implementing the fifth and final phase of the mandatory digital salary transfer for domestic workers is approaching. The ministry's official account confirmed that January 1, 2026, will mark the start of full implementation for all domestic workers without exception, with payments being documented through the "Musaned" platform at no additional service fees.
The context of digital transformation and rights preservation
This decision comes as part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at developing the domestic labor market in the Kingdom, and in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to promote digital financial transactions and reduce reliance on cash. This measure primarily aims to protect the rights of both parties (employer and employee), as the digital transfer serves as a legal document proving the employee's receipt of their financial dues, thus effectively contributing to reducing labor disputes and wage issues.
Furthermore, this system contributes to improving the working environment for domestic workers by ensuring transparency and reliability in payment processes, and makes it easier for employers to manage payroll records in an organized and automated manner.
Gradual implementation of the decision (2024-2026)
This decision did not come as a surprise. Rather, the "Musaned" platform adopted a phased timeline to ensure the smooth implementation, with the journey beginning on July 1, 2024, and including the following stages:
- July 2024: Application to new domestic workers coming to the Kingdom for the first time.
- January 2025: Obligation for employers with more than 4 domestic workers.
- July 2025: The decision included those who have 3 or more domestic workers.
- October 2025: Application to those with two or more domestic workers.
- January 2026: The final and mandatory phase for all employers and domestic workers, regardless of their number.
Steps to activate the salary transfer service
To ensure compliance with the decision and avoid any violations, employers must follow the following steps precisely:
- SIM card extraction: Obtaining a mobile number for the domestic worker registered with their residence permit number.
- Creating a digital wallet: Opening an account for the worker in one of the approved digital wallets in the Kingdom.
- To execute the transfer: The employer logs into his digital wallet, selects the “Domestic Workers Salaries” icon, where the data of the workers registered in his name in Musaned will appear, then he clicks on “Confirm Payment”.
The service also offers flexible options including advance salary transfer, loan, or discount, with the ability to add notes explaining the type of transaction.
Service requirements and conditions
To complete the process successfully, the ministry stipulated the following:
- The employment contract must be documented and valid through the Musaned platform.
- The transfer should be made from the employer's own bank account or wallet.
- The worker's data in the digital wallet matches his data in the Musaned platform.
How to adjust wages in Musaned
If the employer wishes to increase the employee's salary and officially document this, the following steps can be followed:
- Log in to the employer's account on the Musaned platform.
- Go to the "Employment" icon and select the name of the worker in question.
- Click on "Wage Details" then "Update Employee Wage".
- Enter the new wage value and save the changes.
