Cabinet authorizes HRSD Minister to set work fees for dependents

Saudi Arabia expands Minister’s powers over expat dependent workers

The Saudi Cabinet authorized the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) to define the fees for dependents of legal expatriate workers in the Kingdom.

Accordingly, the minister has the authority to regulate the employment of dependents of regular expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia, in addition to defining the scope of expansion in economic activities and professions, in coordination with relevant authorities.

The fees for dependent workers will be determined by the HRSD minister, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Non-Oil Revenue Development Center.

The resolution stipulates that the total dependent fees should be equivalent to the fees imposed on expatriate workers in the private sector.

In 2023, the Cabinet authorized the HRSD minister to regulate the employment of dependents and to expand their involvement in various professions and economic sectors, according to Argaam data.

Saudi Arabia began implementing the first phase of dependent fees in July 2017, at SAR 100 per month for each dependent. The fees increased to SAR 200 as of July 2018, reaching SAR 400 per month—or SAR 4,800 annually—by July 2020.