RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Government of Saudi Arabia will implement a mandatory minimum wage of SAR 1,000 (approximately KSh 34,455) per month for all foreign workers, including the more than 200,000 Kenyans employed in the Kingdom, beginning in February 2026. The landmark policy was confirmed in a public statement released by the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh on Sunday, 16 November 2025, marking a significant development in the labour landscape of the Gulf nation.

In its announcement, the embassy stated, “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 labor reforms following changes to the Kafala system.” Officials urged Kenyan nationals to engage with their employers to ensure the timely implementation of the new wage and to report any compliance issues through official embassy channels for intervention.

Context of Labour Reforms

This new wage floor is a component of broader labour market reforms connected to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to modernize the economy and improve the working environment. A central part of these reforms has been the modification of the Kafala (sponsorship) system. For decades, the Kafala system has been heavily criticized by international human rights organizations for tying migrant workers' legal status directly to their employer, creating a power imbalance that often led to severe exploitation, including wage theft, passport confiscation, and restrictions on movement.

While Saudi Arabia has introduced changes to allow some workers to change jobs or leave the country without their employer's consent, rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have argued that these reforms are insufficient and do not fully dismantle the abusive structures, particularly for domestic workers who remain excluded from many protections under Saudi labour law. An estimated 150,000 of the 200,000 Kenyans in Saudi Arabia are employed as domestic workers, a group historically most vulnerable to abuse.

Implications for Kenyan Workers and Economy

The introduction of a minimum wage is expected to provide a crucial layer of financial protection for thousands of Kenyans, many of whom previously had no official salary protection. Remittances from workers in Saudi Arabia are a vital source of foreign exchange for Kenya and provide essential income for many families. The standardized wage could lead to an increase in the total volume of these remittances, bolstering the Kenyan economy.

However, the announcement arrives amid persistent and grave concerns over the welfare of Kenyan migrants in the Gulf. Numerous reports have documented cases of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, inhumane working conditions, and unexplained deaths. Just last week, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, revealed that since 2022, over 500 Kenyans had been rescued and repatriated after facing inhumane treatment in various host countries. The Kenyan government has also established a Joint Interdepartmental Working Group (JIWG) to facilitate the repatriation of Kenyan mothers and their undocumented children who are stranded in the Kingdom.

A Step Towards Protection

The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of its citizens abroad and stated it will monitor the rollout of the new salary standard. For a workforce that has long been at the mercy of individual employers, the establishment of a legal minimum wage represents a formal, albeit initial, step towards standardizing employment terms and preventing the most extreme forms of wage exploitation. The focus now shifts to implementation and enforcement, which will determine whether the policy translates into meaningful improvements for Kenyans on the ground.