Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia have been warned against working for their own account without following the country’s employment rules.
The Ministry of Interior said an expatriate caught doing unauthorized self-employment may face:
- A fine of up to SR50,000
- Imprisonment for up to six months
- Deportation from Saudi Arabia
The warning was issued on August 24 and reported by the Saudi Gazette.
It applies to foreign nationals, including overseas Filipino workers and other expatriate residents.
What Does “Working for Yourself” Mean?
Saudi labor rules generally connect a foreign worker’s employment to a registered employer, work permit, profession, and employment contract.
Unauthorized self-employment may include independently offering paid services or operating an informal business without the required legal arrangement.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include accepting paid side jobs, selling goods informally, providing independent services, or transporting passengers for payment.
However, workers should not assume that every extra-income activity is automatically covered by the warning.
The main question is whether the activity is allowed under the worker’s permit and has completed the required government procedures.
Saudi Arabia’s official rules on employing non-Saudis state that a foreign worker cannot work for another employer or for their own account unless the approved rules and procedures are followed.
Permission From an Employer May Not Be Enough
An informal agreement with an employer does not automatically make an outside job legal.
The employer is also prohibited from allowing a worker to work for another employer or independently outside the approved process.
Domestic workers are covered by similar restrictions.
Official employer obligations for domestic workers say employers must not allow them to work for other people, for their own benefit, or in a profession different from the one stated in their contract and residence permit.
Check Before Accepting a Side Job
Expats should check their Qiwa contract, work permit, registered profession, and employer details before accepting outside work.
Workers should not rely only on verbal permission or advice from friends.
Those who want to transfer to another employer should use the official employment-transfer process instead of beginning work informally.
The Qiwa platform provides official services involving contracts, permits, and worker transfers.
For questions, workers may contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development through 19911.
The warning does not introduce a new legal employment route. It reminds foreign workers that paid work outside their approved arrangement can lead to serious penalties.