Saudi Arabia’s construction sector depends on hundreds of thousands of expatriate masons, steel fixers, electricians, welders, and equipment operators. For each of them, the employment contract decides salary, working hours, allowances, and the legal right to stay in the Kingdom. Since 2021, that contract lives on Qiwa.
Knowing how to check your contract status on Qiwa can protect you from serious problems: unpaid wages, a blocked job transfer, or being marked “absent from work” without realising it. This guide explains the process step by step.
What Is Qiwa?
Qiwa (qiwa.sa) is the digital labour platform of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), launched in 2021. Employers use it to create and document employment contracts electronically, and workers use their individual accounts to approve, reject, or request changes to those contracts.
Once both sides accept, the contract is authenticated by the ministry and shared with other government systems such as GOSI and Jawazat. Under recent reforms, contracts documented on Qiwa carry real legal weight in wage disputes — which means a promise that exists only on paper gives you much weaker protection.
Why Contract Status Matters for Construction Workers
Construction work carries specific risks. Jobs are often tied to a single project, workers may be employed through subcontractors or moved between sites, and some are registered under a job title that doesn’t match their actual trade.
Your Qiwa status tells you exactly where you stand: whether your contract is valid, whether you are allowed to transfer, and whether your employer has documented what they promised you.
What You Need Before You Start
- A valid Iqama number
- An active Absher account with a mobile number registered in your own name (you’ll need it for verification codes)
- The Nafath app (optional, but it makes logging in easier)
- A smartphone or computer — Qiwa has a website and an app on the App Store and Google Play
Tip: Many construction workers find their Absher mobile number is registered to a supervisor or company representative. Fix this first, because every verification code will go to that number.
Step 1: Create Your Qiwa Individual Account
- Go to qiwa.sa and choose the sign-up option for individuals.
- Enter your Iqama number and date of birth.
- Enter the one-time code sent to your Absher-registered mobile.
- Add your email address and create a strong password.
- Register your mobile number and confirm it with a second code.
Step 2: Log In and Open Your Contract
- Log in on the website or app using your Iqama number and password, or through Nafath.
- Go to Services and select Employment Contracts.
- Open Your Current Contracts to view the full contract.
Qiwa updates its menus from time to time, so if a label has moved, look for the contracts section on your dashboard.
Step 3: Understand What Your Status Means
| Status | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Pending Your Approval | Your employer has sent a contract for you to review. | Read every clause before accepting. You can reject it or request changes. |
| Modification Pending Your Approval | Your employer has changed the terms — salary, job title, or duration. | Compare the new terms with the old ones carefully before approving. |
| Authenticated / Currently Employed | Both sides have accepted. Your contract is valid. | Note the end date and keep checking regularly. |
| Notice Period | A resignation or termination is in progress. | Qiwa now closes the contract automatically when the notice period ends. Use this time to arrange a transfer or exit. |
| Disconnected from Work | Your contract has ended without renewal. | You have 60 days to renew with your employer, transfer to a new employer, or leave the Kingdom. |
| Absent from Work | The grace period passed with no action. | You are removed from your employer’s and GOSI records and lose transfer eligibility. Seek help immediately. |
If you are moving to a new job, you may also see transfer statuses such as “Pending for Current Employer Approval” or “Pending Notice Period Completion.” These show where your transfer request sits in the approval chain.
What to Check Inside Your Contract
Viewing your status is only half the job. Open the contract itself and confirm these details:
- Job title (profession): Does it match your real trade? Being registered as a general labourer when you work as a certified electrician can affect your pay and future job transfers. Profession changes go through a separate approval process.
- Basic salary and allowances: Check housing, transport, and food allowances against what you actually receive in your bank account. Salaries in Qiwa should match what your employer reports through the Wage Protection System.
- Working hours and overtime: Saudi labour law generally limits work to 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week, with overtime paid at your basic hourly wage plus 50%. Long site shifts should be reflected in your pay.
- Contract duration and end date: Mark the end date on your calendar. The 60-day grace period starts from this point.
- Employer name: Make sure the establishment listed is the company you really work for, not a different entity in a subcontracting chain.
Other Useful Qiwa Tools
Qiwa also lets you download a salary certificate and a free employment certificate, and calculate your end-of-service benefits — useful when a project is ending.
You should also check your work permit validity. Since July 1, 2026, Qiwa automatically removes workers from an employer’s records if their work permit has been expired for more than three months. The employer remains responsible for financial obligations up to that point, but the removal can still disrupt your legal status.
Common Problems and What to Do
Your contract doesn’t appear on Qiwa. Ask your employer’s HR or PRO team to document it. If they refuse, you can raise a complaint through HRSD channels, including the ministry’s 19911 hotline.
Your status wrongly shows “Absent from Work.” The ministry has run initiatives allowing affected workers to correct their status and transfer to a new employer, usually with the new employer paying any late permit fees. Act quickly and keep records of your employment.
Your salary hasn’t been paid. Saudi labour mobility rules allow transfers without the current employer’s consent in certain situations, such as prolonged unpaid wages or an expired work permit. Check the current conditions on Qiwa before relying on this route.
Final Tips
- Check Qiwa monthly, and weekly when a project is winding down.
- Never share your password or verification codes with anyone.
- Screenshot your contract and every status change.
- Count your grace period days carefully — the deadline is automatic.
Qiwa has given construction workers something they rarely had before: direct visibility into their own employment records. A few minutes of checking each month can protect your income, your right to transfer, and your legal status in Saudi Arabia.