Saudi Arabia to pay Kenyan workers minimum Sh34,455 from February 2026 amid labour reforms
The new rule applies to all foreign workers in the kingdom and is part of ongoing labour reforms following changes to the Kafala system, which governs the employment and sponsorship of expatriates.
Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia will earn a minimum salary of SAR 1,000 (Sh34,455) per month starting February 2026, the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh announced on Sunday.
The new rule applies to all foreign workers in the kingdom and is part of ongoing labour reforms following changes to the Kafala system, which governs the employment and sponsorship of expatriates.
More To Read
- Kenyan single mothers in Saudi Arabia urged to register children, collect birth certificates
- Economic value of unpaid domestic and care work in Kenya
- Study finds Kenya’s unpaid household labour worth Sh2.5 trillion annually
- Kenyan women shoulder Sh1.89 trillion in unpaid domestic work, says KNBS
- Kenya’s envoy Mohamed Ruwange presents credentials to Saudi Crown Prince amid recall uncertainty
- Government condemns death of Kilimani domestic worker, calls for swift justice
The system has long faced criticism for tying foreign workers’ residency and work permits to their employers, giving sponsors extensive control and creating conditions that can lead to exploitation, abuse, and restricted freedom of movement.
"The Embassy wishes to inform all Kenyan workers that, effective February 2026, the Government of Saudi Arabia will implement a minimum salary of SAR 1,000 per month for all workers. This is in line with ongoing labour reforms following changes to the Kafala system," the Embassy stated on Facebook.
The embassy also urged Kenyan nationals to verify with their employers that the minimum wage is being implemented and to report any concerns through official embassy channels.
"The Embassy remains committed to supporting the welfare and rights of all Kenyan nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added.
Kenya has a large number of nationals working in Saudi Arabia, but many face harsh conditions, particularly domestic workers, who often endure long hours, low pay, restricted freedom, confiscated documents, and sometimes physical or verbal abuse.
According to Amnesty International, many domestic workers are lured to Saudi Arabia under false promises about their jobs, only to face gruelling work schedules of more than 16 hours a day, with no days off and confinement to their employers’ homes.
"These women travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of work to support their families but instead endured unspeakable abuse in the homes of their employers," said Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, in a May report.
"The Kenyan government is actively encouraging labour migration, and the Saudi Arabian authorities claim that they have introduced labour rights reforms, yet behind closed doors, domestic workers continue to face shocking levels of racism, abuse and exploitation."
Data from the Kenya Vital Statistics Report 2023 shows that the number of Kenyan migrant workers who died in Saudi Arabia more than doubled in 2023, highlighting the grim reality of migrant labour in the Gulf state.
According to the report, the number of registered Kenyan-worker deaths in Saudi Arabia increased to 29 in 2023, up from 13 in 2022.
Top Stories Today
Reader Comments
Trending
