Immigration

Saudi Arabia | Implementation of wage clause and new Qiwa contract requirements

Summary

As part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 labor market reforms, all employment contracts must now be recorded on both the Qiwa portal (under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development) and the Najiz platform (under the Ministry of Justice). Previously, contracts were recorded only on Qiwa.

The MHRSD, in partnership with the MoJ, has introduced the implementation of the wage clause as an executive instrument in certified employment contracts.

This initiative enhances the protection of workers’ rights, promotes contractual transparency, and facilitates the swift resolution of wage-related disputes through digital integration between the Qiwa, Mudad, and Najiz platforms.

The detail

Effective immediately, wage clauses included in certified employment contracts are legally enforceable. Both employers and employees can now submit execution requests related to wage payment violations directly through the Najiz platform. Supporting documentation is no longer required, as all verification occurs automatically via the Mudad platform.

New employment Qiwa contracts are also required to include additional details, such as:

• The registered national address for both the company and the foreign national employee;
• The type of employment contract (fixed-term or non-fixed-term); and
• The exact salary payment due date, among other key information.

In line with these updates, stricter wage payment enforcement rules have been introduced to safeguard employees who do not receive their salaries on time. Employers are therefore advised to ensure that:

• All employment contracts are properly documented and authenticated through the Qiwa platform;
• Employment terms are accurately recorded; and
• Wage payments are made promptly in accordance with the contract.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in enforcement actions or penalties under the new regulations.

To benefit from this mechanism, employment contracts must be:

• Certified through the Qiwa platform; and
• Issued with an execution number by the MoJ’s Certification Center.

Employees may file an electronic execution request if:

• They do not receive full wages within 30 days of the due date; or
• They receive partial payments after 90 days.

Upon submission, employers have five days from notification to respond or contest the request.

Implementation will occur in three phases:

• Phase 1 – 6 October 2025: Applies to new or updated employment contracts.
• Phase 2 – 6 March 2026: Applies to renewed fixed-term contracts.
• Phase 3 – 6 August 2026: Applies to non-fixed-term contracts.

The Ministry has published detailed guidance to support both employers and employees in understanding eligibility and procedural requirements.

What this means

For Employees: This development offers employees stronger protection and a faster route to recover unpaid wages. Workers whose contracts are certified via Qiwa can now directly file execution requests through Najiz, eliminating the need for lengthy dispute processes or additional documentation.

For Employers: Employers must ensure that all employment contracts are certified in Qiwa and compliant with the new requirements. Non-compliance may expose employers to wage enforcement actions initiated directly through Najiz. Organisations are encouraged to review their contract management and payroll processes to align with this reform and avoid potential penalties or disputes.

How we can help

At Vialto Partners, we support organisations in navigating Saudi Arabia’s evolving labour and digital compliance landscape. Our team can:

• Review employment contracts for compliance with certification and wage clause requirements;
• Guide employers through the Qiwa certification and Najiz execution processes;
• Advise on risk mitigation and employee communications to ensure smooth adaptation during the phased rollout.

For tailored advice on how these changes may affect your workforce or business operations, please contact our team.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner

Ali Ibrahim
Director, KSA and Bahrain Lead

Ahmed Amer
Manager, KSA Immigration

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