New Qiwa Labor Update: Automatic Job Transfer After 90 Days of Expired Work Permit

Cars Fault

Admin

posted on 2 hours ago — updated on 1 second ago

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For years, expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia faced major vulnerabilities when their employers delayed or neglected their documentation. If a sponsor or company failed to renew an Iqama or work permit (Rukhsat Al-Amal), the employee was left stranded—unable to legally work, issue an exit visa, or transfer to a new company without the current sponsor's official consent.

To eliminate employer bottlenecks, exploitation, and blackmailing, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has fully automated the contract termination process on the Qiwa Platform.

Here is a breakdown of how this 90-day automatic rule works and how it effectively protects your legal rights as an expat in the Kingdom.

The 90-Day Rule: Freedom from Sponsor Approvals

Previously, even if your work permit remained expired for months, your data stayed bound to your current employer’s government system. You could not move to another job without an official clearance or release letter, giving unreliable employers massive leverage over your career.

Under the updated Qiwa system, this dynamic has completely changed:

The 90-Day Grace Window: Employers have a clear timeline to handle work permit renewals. Legally, a work permit can be renewed up to 180 days before its official expiration.
Automatic Disconnection on Day 91: If an establishment fails to renew its non-Saudi employee's work permit for 90 consecutive days, the digital system steps in. On the 91st day, the contractual relationship between the worker and the employer is automatically broken by the platform.
Instant Transfer Eligibility (Naqal Kafala): Once the 91-day mark hits, the expat is entirely free from the old company’s legal file. Any new employer can instantly log into Qiwa and initiate a sponsorship transfer. The old employer cannot place a "No Objection" block, nor does the system require their manual approval to complete the process.

Keeping Evidence: How to Protect Your Legal Rights

While the Qiwa platform handles document expirations automatically, other employer violations like salary delays or unfair contract terminations still happen. While Saudi Arabia's labor ecosystem has shifted heavily toward transparency, the legal framework depends heavily on documentation.

If your employer forces you to work while intentionally letting your legal papers expire, do not stay silent. Keep a secure digital paper trail:

Gather Electronic Evidence: Take clear screenshots of your expired status on Absher or Qiwa. Keep official bank statements showing delayed or missing salary payments, and save relevant written communication like emails or WhatsApp messages.
File an Official Case: Submit this electronic evidence through the MHRSD portal or visit your local Labor Office (Maktab Al-Amal). Automated platform regulations combined with clear digital evidence guarantee your dispute will be processed and resolved efficiently.

Verified Official & Authentic Sources

To review compliance requirements or verify these specific guidelines yourself, you can access the live official portals managed by the Saudi government:

1. Qiwa Official Service Guide: Immediate Transfer Pathway

This is the business portal where Qiwa defines the "Immediate Transfer Pathway" (النقل الفوري). It confirms that a new employer can safely bypass the current sponsor's approval and skip the typical notice period if the worker's papers are expired.

Official English Portal: Employee Transfer Service Guide - Qiwa
Official Arabic Portal: كيف يتم نقل الموظف غير السعودي من منشأة إلى أخرى؟ - قوى

2. Qiwa Work Permit Regulations & Employer Penalties

This section details the 90-day compliance regulations regarding work permits (Rukhsat Al-Amal). It verifies that an employer is blocked from keeping employees tied to their file if documentation isn't maintained.

Official Portal Link: How to Renew Work Permits on Qiwa

3. Ministry of Human Resources (MHRSD) Contract Portal

If you need to look at the broader legal architecture that allows for contract termination without employer consent (such as when an employer defaults on documentation or fails to pay salaries for 3 months), the primary government source is the MHRSD Contractual Relationship Portal.