Recruitment firms are being targeted in Saudi Arabia as officials move to uphold key labour rules and regulations
Some 17 recruitment offices were flagged for breaching recruitment and labour service regulations during the final quarter of 2025, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Problem areas highlighted among the recruitment companies include the withholding of payments to beneficiaries.
It underscores a broader shift to tighten up the nation’s labour market, including strengthening areas surrounding health, safety and the environment (HSE).
Many labour market regulations on issues like wages or contractual rights dovetail with occupational health and worker welfare under the HSE umbrella.
The latest round up of recruitment offenders continues ongoing efforts to regulate the sector, boost compliance and safeguard the rights of all parties, the Ministry said in a statement.
It reported detecting “multiple violations” and taking statutory measures against a total of 17 recruitment offices during the quarter.
The operations of six offices were suspended immediately, while the licenses of 11 others were revoked for failing to rectify violations within a prescribed timeframe.
The violations identified included breaches of recruitment practice regulations and labour service provisions, delays in refunding amounts due to beneficiaries, and failure to properly address submitted complaints, the Ministry noted.
“This move forms part of the Ministry’s broader regulatory and supervisory efforts to strengthen compliance across the labour market,” it said in the statement.
“It aligns with the Ministry’s strategy to curb improper practices and protect the rights of all parties to contractual relationships, contributing to a well-regulated work environment built on transparency and an improved beneficiary experience.”
The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing monitoring of the performance of recruitment offices and companies, and to enforcing statutory penalties against violators.
