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Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
What Is Saudi Arabia's wage protection plan and how does it help expats secure their pay
Saudi Arabia's new wage insurance and digital reforms aim to safeguard expatriate workers' rights and earnings amidst Vision 2030 labor market transformations/Representative Image TL;DR: Saudi 's Expatriate Worker Wage Insurance , effective October 6, 2024, covers up to SAR 17,500 in unpaid wages and includes a repatriation ticket if 80%+ of workers at a firm go unpaid for six months. It complements major digital labor reforms, such as the Musaned platform for domestic workers launched in October 2024, and sweeping 2025 labor-law enhancements around wage transparency and contract digitisation. Early feedback from Amnesty International and financial services experts praises the initiative as a labor-rights improvement but notes exclusions and administrative barriers remain significant. Saudi Arabia's groundbreaking wage-insurance program launched in late 2024 isn't an isolated initiative, it's part of a sweeping transformation of the private-sector employment landscape. With workers facing fewer delays in wage payments, a digital-first Musaned platform built to monitor domestic labor contracts, and 2025 labor-law changes mandating electronic payslips and enforcing stricter wage transparency, the kingdom is aligning its labor market with global best practices. But while these reforms mark progress, enforcement nuances and the scope of worker protections especially for non-regulated sectors remain under scrutiny. Wage Insurance as a Safety Net, Not a First Responder Implemented jointly by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) and the Insurance Authority, Saudi's insurance policy ensures private-sector expats receive up to 6 months' wages (capped at SAR 17,500, around $4,667) if 80% or more of a firm's workers are left unpaid for the same period. A repatriation flight ticket (up to SAR 1,000, around $267) is also included for employees who choose to leave the kingdom rather than transfer sponsors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Confirm: 60-Year-Old Sheds Fat With 4 Ingredients The Healthy Way Learn More Undo Digital Oversight: Musaned Platform Rolls Out Just days after the insurance launch, the Musaned platform went live in mid‑October 2024 digitising domestic-worker contracts, embedding wage monitoring, and enabling embassies to track worker status via the app. It has since processed some 12,649 domestic-labour disputes, covering nationalities like India, Philippines, and Vietnam. Musaned now supports digital contract access, payment tracking, and dispute-resolution tools. 2025 Labor-Law Overhaul: Transparency at the Core May 2025 saw sweeping amendments to Saudi labor law that further reinforce wage protection mechanisms. Critical reforms include: Mandatory electronic payslips with wage breakdowns, deadlines, and deductions logged for five years. Wage payment grace period set at five business days; similar delay risks penalties. Dispute resolution streamlined online via pre-litigation mediation and enforceable rulings, minimising bureaucratic hurdles. How Reforms Fit Together These initiatives connect across a unified policy framework: Preventive measures : Musaned helps avoid unpaid work before it occurs. Transparent tracking : Digital payslips and real-time monitoring make breaches more visible and prosecutable. Reactive support : The wage-insurance system provides a final safety net when defaults actually happen. Together, these systems promise greater accountability among employers and faster financial recourse for workers. Praise Amid Caveats International observers commend Saudi's efforts, given the historical vulnerabilities of contract migrant labour. Amnesty International, however, warns that thresholds 80% firm default and six-month window may exclude isolated or short-term non-payment cases, leaving some workers unprotected. Law firms like Deloitte and Fragomen highlight the program's alignment with Vision 2030, but emphasise that documentation-heavy claims and high eligibility thresholds require further refinement. Expat Voices: Modular Improvements, Still a Safety Net Arab News interviewed Abdulrahman Al-Zaid, head of international HR at HRSD, who called the insurance part of a broader labor modernization push. An expat consultant from India described it as a "crucial financial relief" during salary delays, noting that return ticket coverage was 'particularly helpful'. Online forums echo this positive reception. Looking Ahead: Enforcement, Accessibility, Inclusion For the system to succeed, three areas need focus: Threshold adjustments : Lowering the 80% default requirement could protect lone or smaller groups of affected workers. Simplified claims : Reducing required documentation and wait times would improve access. Broader coverage : Expanding insurance to seasons, domestic workers, and contractors could complete the protection framework. Saudi Arabia's wage insurance is more than a wage-filing tool, it's a milestone in its multi-phase labor reform agenda, which includes the Musaned platform, electronic wage transparency, and digital dispute resolution. These new systems collectively signal a shift from reactive protection to proactive labor market oversight. Achieving real-world worker empowerment, however, will depend on refining thresholds, improving accessibility, and reinforcing legal recourse. Saudi now has the blueprint to elevate migrant-worker protections—and how it implements it next may define its success.
RTHK
a day ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Push for more HK inclusion in China IOMed quota
Push for more HK inclusion in China IOMed quota Paul Lam says the SAR administration will seek support from the central government for Hong Kong talent to be included in China's quota of mediators. File photo: RTHK Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said on Saturday he hopes more Hong Kong talent can play arbitration roles once the International Organisation of Mediation (IOMed) becomes fully operational as the city will do well in handling civil and commercial disputes. Speaking on a radio programme, he said mediator quotas have been set for each participating nation and that the government will push for Hong Kong talent to be appointed as part of the allocation for China. There will be two lists for mediators, Lam added, one for handling disputes between countries and the other for dealing with civil and commercial disputes. "It would be difficult for us to handle disputes between countries, but Hong Kong is good at the latter," he said. "We have talent in the field, so we [the government] will seek support from our nation to pick people from Hong Kong to be appointed into the list," he said. "Our nation has a lot of outstanding talent in mediation, not just Hongkongers, but at least we have to fight for our opportunities." Lam said 33 nations have signed up to join IOMed and that each member can nominate and pick mediators depending on the nature of the case. Hong Kong's winning the right to host IOMed's headquarters shows respect for the city's capability to be a centre for international services, he added, and that member nations recognise the strengths of the SAR. Lam also said renovation work at the old Wan Chai police station, which is to be the site of the headquarters for IOMed, is in the finishing stages and that its preparatory office will take over the venue soon. Meanwhile, he added, lot of explanation work has to be done to make clear Hong Kong's situation to the world, despite the city being highly competitive globally. When asked about his recent trip to the Netherlands, France and Italy to attract more European law institutions to set up offices in the SAR, Lam said progress had been made but that more effort was needed. He added that a lot of these organisations had been focused on development in western European countries in the past but were currently seeking recognition from the Asia-Pacific in order to follow the global trend.
RTHK
a day ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Push for more HK inclusion in China IOMed quota
Push for more HK inclusion in China IOMed quota Paul Lam says the SAR administration will seek support from the central government for Hong Kong talent to be included in China's quota of mediators. File photo: RTHK Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said on Saturday he hopes more Hong Kong talent can play arbitration roles once the International Organisation of Mediation (IOMed) becomes fully operational as the city will do well in handling civil and commercial disputes. Speaking on a radio programme, he said mediator quotas have been set for each participating nation and that the government will push for Hong Kong talent to be appointed as part of the allocation for China. There will be two lists for mediators, Lam added, one for handling disputes between countries and the other for dealing with civil and commercial disputes. "It would be difficult for us to handle disputes between countries, but Hong Kong is good at the latter," he said. "We have talent in the field, so we [the government] will seek support from our nation to pick people from Hong Kong to be appointed into the list," he said. "Our nation has a lot of outstanding talent in mediation, not just Hongkongers, but at least we have to fight for our opportunities." Lam said 33 nations have signed up to join IOMed and that each member can nominate and pick mediators depending on the nature of the case. Hong Kong's winning the right to host IOMed's headquarters shows respect for the city's capability to be a centre for international services, he added, and that member nations recognise the strengths of the SAR. Lam also said renovation work at the old Wan Chai police station, which is to be the site of the headquarters for IOMed, is in the finishing stages and that its preparatory office will take over the venue soon. Meanwhile, he added, lot of explanation work has to be done to make clear Hong Kong's situation to the world, despite the city being highly competitive globally. When asked about his recent trip to the Netherlands, France and Italy to attract more European law institutions to set up offices in the SAR, Lam said progress had been made but that more effort was needed. He added that a lot of these organisations had been focused on development in western European countries in the past but were currently seeking recognition from the Asia-Pacific in order to follow the global trend.
The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
"Art Macao 2025" opens with creative exhibitions across city
MACAO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The "Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025" (Art Macao 2025) opened on Friday, featuring nearly 30 exhibitions across six sections with participation from artists worldwide. Running from July to October, the event was organized by the cultural affairs bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and co-organized by the SAR government's tourism office as well as enterprises in Macao. The main exhibition will feature nearly 80 pieces of artworks from 46 artists, blending art with everyday life and offering interactive works that involve artificial intelligence technology. According to the organizer, the event will also highlight local talents through six exhibitions curated by Macao-based artists that explore themes of cultural identity, language, and ecology. Leong Wai Man, head of the cultural affairs bureau, underlined the importance of cultural exchanges and mutual learning, saying that artists from around the world will have their roles to play.
RTHK
a day ago
- Climate
- RTHK
Standby Signal No 1 issued, T3 expected later today
Standby Signal No 1 issued, T3 expected later today Strong Wind Signal Number 3 is expected to be issued later on Saturday. Image courtesy of the HKO The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No 1 at 2:20 am on Saturday, after Tropical Cyclone Wipha moved to within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong a short while earlier. It said it will consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No 3 during the daytime on Saturday, with Wipha set to strengthen in intensity gradually. "Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday and expected to skirt around 50 kilometres from Hong Kong," the Observatory said. The weather watchdog said the weather will remain hot on Saturday, with strong winds to hit later in the day. It also urged the public to stay away from the shoreline, as thunderstorms and heavy rain will pour over the SAR on Sunday. The observatory will also consider issuing higher typhoon signals if needed. Former HKO assistant director Leung Wing-mo, meanwhile, has warned of the "significant threat" posed by Wipha to Hong Kong. The meteorologist cited data from weather prediction models, saying the storm could directly hit the SAR. "It avoided the land mass of Luzon. In that way, it will preserve its intensity as a severe tropical storm, and then it will start to intensify as soon as it gets into the South China Sea," he said. "By the time it comes closest to Hong Kong, it is already a full-blown typhoon, of typhoon intensity up to a maximum of 140 kilometres per hour. Judging from every aspect of this tropical cyclone, it's going to be a significant threat to Hong Kong."
