Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has clarified the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of a limited number of domestic worker recruitment contracts through the Musaned platform. The ministry explained that the cancellations resulted from operational difficulties affecting certain recruitment offices rather than a general decision to suspend contracts or recruitment services.

The clarification followed reports concerning the cancellation of some recruitment contracts involving workers from Ethiopia after applicants had paid the required fees. These reports prompted questions among beneficiaries about the reasons behind the cancellations, the status of existing applications, and claims that recruitment costs had increased by approximately 30%.

According to the ministry, the affected contracts represented a limited number of cases in which recruitment arrangements could not be completed as originally planned. Some overseas recruitment offices had encountered operational challenges that prevented them from fulfilling their contractual obligations, resulting in difficulties completing the recruitment process.

The ministry emphasized that domestic worker recruitment services remain available through Musaned under the previously approved and specified costs. It also clarified that the cancellation of the affected contracts was not connected to a 30% increase in recruitment fees, contrary to claims circulating about the reasons behind the cancellations.

For households relying on domestic workers, the announcement provides clarification about the difference between individual contractual difficulties and broader changes to recruitment policy. It also reinforces the importance of monitoring applications through authorized channels and ensuring that recruitment arrangements are documented through the official platform.

Applicants whose contracts have been delayed or cancelled are encouraged to review their application status through Musaned and contact the platform’s official support channels. Any applicable refund, cancellation, or contractual entitlement should be determined according to the specific agreement and relevant Saudi regulations rather than assumptions based on general reports.

Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development