After obtaining the ministry's approval, the process of transferring the service of foreign workers who are reported absent from work must be completed within 15 days.

If the transfer does not occur within this timeline, the worker's status will remain absent.

According to the ministry, this is part of the updated Labor Law regulations regarding workers who are reported absent from work by their employers.

A company may transfer the services of these workers to its facilities, and the outstanding fees of these workers will be transferred to the new employer, as long as the employer agrees to this when transferring the worker's services to him, according to Saad Al-Hammad, the ministry's spokesman.

Al-Hammad told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the ministry has updated the regulations and procedures regarding foreign workers who are absent from work in private companies.

In this way, the work environment will be improved and the rights of the parties in the contractual relationship will be protected. Among its responsibilities, the ministry strives to protect all parties' rights and improve the work environment," he said.

The spokesman stated that the ministry has updated the regulations by which the worker's data ceases to be linked with his firm, and his status will be "absent from work" at the ministry's systems if the employer submits a request to terminate the contractual relationship due to the worker's absence. As a result, the current employer is not liable for the worker.

By taking these measures, the ministry sought to protect workers' and employers' rights, as well as to boost the efficiency and attractiveness of the Saudi labor market through a series of initiatives, including the Wage Protection Law, the "Wudi" program, and the initiative to improve contractual relationships.