Saudi Arabia will increase the minimum supported wage under its Employment Support Program to SR5,000 per month starting April 25, 2027. It will rise again to SR6,000 a year later.
The Human Resources Development Fund announced the adjustments to empower national talent, improve job quality, and strengthen the competitiveness of Saudi citizens, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Officials stated the policy encourages private companies to recruit Saudi nationals. This boosts workforce participation for both men and women while supporting broader economic goals.
The reform aligns with a decision by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The ministry is raising the minimum wage threshold used for calculating Saudi employment under the Nitaqat Saudization scheme, which classifies private enterprises based on their compliance with national quotas.
The fund outlined a two-phase schedule. The first phase starts on April 25, 2027, lifting the minimum supported wage from SR4,000 to SR5,000 monthly for new applicants.
This initial phase also applies to existing support applications starting with May 2027 payments.
The second phase takes effect on April 25, 2028, lifting the rate to SR6,000 per month for new applications. Existing applications transition to this higher rate in May 2028.
The fund confirmed it will maintain financial contributions toward the salaries of eligible Saudi employees. It will cover up to 50 percent of monthly wages, capped at SR3,000 per month.
Employers and beneficiaries can visit the official website to review eligibility criteria.
