The employment contract is an enforceable document: an immediate solution for delayed salaries through Najiz
In a move considered unprecedented in the history of Saudi labor market regulation, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Justice, launched a revolutionary initiative aimed at protecting employee rights and definitively ending the suffering caused by delayed salaries. This initiative grants the notarized employment contract the status of a legally binding enforceable instrument, thus changing the legal landscape and empowering workers to immediately recover their outstanding financial entitlements through the enforcement courts, bypassing the lengthy traditional procedures for filing labor lawsuits.
The end of the era of lengthy litigation
To understand the significance of this decision, one must consider the historical context of labor disputes. Previously, an employee whose salary was delayed faced a bureaucratic maze, beginning with the labor office and attempts at amicable settlement, then proceeding through the primary labor courts and finally to appeals—a journey that could take months to obtain a final ruling. Today, thanks to this initiative, this arduous process has been streamlined with the touch of a button, as the contract itself has become a legally binding judgment. This reflects a tremendous advancement in the justice system and contributes to easing the burden on the courts and reducing litigation time.
Advanced technological mechanism to guarantee rights
This initiative relies on a sophisticated technological infrastructure linking the “Qiwa” and “Najiz” platforms, empowering workers to directly seize their employer's funds and bank accounts in case of payment default. The two ministries clarified that the enforcement power of the contract extends beyond the basic salary to encompass a wide range of financial entitlements, such as housing allowance, transportation allowance, and all other monetary allowances stipulated in the contract, all of which become encumbrances that must be repaid by law.
Integration with the “Madad” platform and automated verification
To ensure accuracy and fairness, an employee's eligibility is verified electronically through a link with the "Mudad" platform, which manages the Wage Protection Program. This eliminates the need for paper documents or complex proofs, as the system automatically detects non-transfer of salaries. To benefit from this service, the contract must be registered on the "Qiwa" platform according to the "Unified Executive Form" and bear an authentication number issued by the Ministry of Justice, thus ensuring the integrity of legal procedures and safeguarding the rights of all parties.
Record numbers and widespread engagement
Since the initiative's launch in early October 2025, the labor market has witnessed unprecedented engagement, reflecting the high level of confidence in this digital transformation. The number of contracts documented as enforceable instruments has exceeded 300,000. This significant demand underscores the desire of all parties involved in employment for a more structured and transparent environment, and enhances the attractiveness of the Saudi market to local and international talent seeking job security and guaranteed financial rights.
Virtual court procedures and statutory deadlines
The initiative established precise and crucial timeframes; workers have the right to resort to the Enforcement Court through the “Najiz” platform and submit a “virtual court” request after 30 days of full salary delays, or after 90 days if they receive partial payment. Conversely, to ensure fairness, employers are granted a legally mandated five-day grace period from the date the request is accepted to object or make payment before enforcement proceedings commence.
Enhancing the investment environment and Vision 2030
This step directly reflects the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to improve the business environment and enhance the efficiency of the labor market. By guaranteeing rights and ensuring the swift enforcement of contracts, the Kingdom is improving its ranking in global competitiveness and ease of doing business indices. A robust and expedited wage protection system not only safeguards workers but also protects compliant employers from unfair competition with non-compliant establishments, thus creating a healthy and attractive investment environment based on transparency and the rule of law.
