On Sunday, September 6, 2026, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, in Riyadh. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the labour and manpower sectors, as well as protecting the rights of contractual parties. Saudi Vice Minister for Labor, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, and other senior officials from both nations were also present at the discussion, which aimed to address shared interests in the labour market. This high-level discussion is significant due to the 2.74 million Indians residing in Saudi Arabia, who are employed across sectors including professional, engineering, technical, construction, healthcare, hospitality, and domestic work. Officials clarified that this meeting did not result in any immediate changes to visa quotas, salary structures, Iqama rules, or recruitment policies. No new minimum wage revisions or work-permit fee adjustments were announced.
Labour cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations, with previous meetings of the India–Saudi Joint Committee on Labour Cooperation held in April and October 2025. Institutional arrangements remain in place, including a
2014 agreement for domestic workers and a 2016 general labour agreement. Furthermore, a March 2022 agreement between India’s National Skill Development Corporation and Saudi Arabia’s Takamol Holding established a Skill Verification Programme to competency standards. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh reiterated that recruitment for all Indian workers must be conducted through the eMigrate system. Professionals and skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled workers must register their documents online. Domestic workers, such as drivers, maids, guards, and cooks, must be recruited through authorized Indian and Saudi agencies, with contracts subject to embassy or consulate attestation. The Embassy warned citizens against traveling based solely on verbal promises, WhatsApp messages, or agent receipts, emphasizing the need for verified contracts, clear job titles, and accommodation details. Specific safeguards apply to female domestic workers, who must be
at least 30 years old and receive a minimum monthly wage of SR 1,500. Recruiters must provide a bank guarantee of US$2,500, or the equivalent in Saudi Riyals, in favor of the Embassy of India in Riyadh or the Consulate General of India in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly utilized digital platforms like the Wage Protection System, Qiwa, Najiz, and Mudad to manage labour contracts and resolve disputes. An insurance product for private-sector expatriates is also available to cover unpaid financial entitlements in the event of employer default. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh is on a visit to the Kingdom from September 5 to September 8, 2026, marking his first official trip in this capacity. Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia facing issues such as unpaid wages, Iqama disputes, harassment, or contract breaches are advised to contact the Indian Embassy’s Community Welfare Wing via the labour helpline at 00-966-11-4884697, the WhatsApp-only line at 00-966-542126748, or by email at labour.riyadh@mea.gov.in. Complaints can also be registered on the MEA’s MADAD portal or the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s helpline at 19911. Workers are encouraged to retain copies of their passports, Iqama, Qiwa contracts, and salary records.
