Direct Answer / Quick Summary:

When an employer submits a new or amended employment contract on the Qiwa platform, the employee receives an automated SMS from MHRSD and enters a statutory review window (typically 7 to 10 calendar days).

To Accept: Log into Qiwa Individuals (أفراد) via Nafath (نفاذ), navigate to Services → Contract Management, review the contract clauses (wage split, job title, working hours), and click Accept Contract*. Once authenticated, the terms become legally binding across MHRSD, GOSI, and Muqeem.

To Reject: If the contract contains unauthorized salary cuts, non-compliant probation terms, or inaccurate job titles, click Reject Contract* and record your statutory objection in the system comments.

Anti-Retaliation Protection: An employer cannot legally penalize you, terminate you without cause, or file an 'Absence from Work' (Inqita') report* for rejecting an unagreed digital contract. If the review timer expires without action, the pending contract is automatically cancelled by the system without altering your existing status.

The Legal Foundation: The Digital Handshake (Tawtheeq)

Under Saudi Arabia’s Contract Authentication Program (برنامج توثيق العقود) governed by Ministerial Decision No. 43878, an employment contract is an enforceable bilateral covenant. An employer cannot unilaterally draft and impose terms on an employee without an explicit electronic counter-signature.

This counter-signature is executed through what the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) designates as the Digital Handshake:

Step 1Submission

Employer Drafts Contract

Sponsoring establishment inputs job terms and wages on Qiwa Business

Step 2Instant

MHRSD System Validation

Automated compliance checks verify Nitaqat quota, WPS wage minimums, and SCE/SOCPA titles

Step 37-10 Days

Employee Verification Window

Worker receives SMS alert with 7-to-10 calendar day timer to review via Nafath

Step 4Rejected / Expired: Request dissolved permanently

Mutual Execution or Expiry

Approved: Instant multi-agency sync

Under Article 8 of the Saudi Labor Law (Royal Decree No. M/51), any clause in an employment agreement that contradicts statutory minimums or waives worker protections is null and void. The Qiwa acceptance gateway serves as your primary defense against unlawful contractual terms.

The Review Window: What Happens on Day 7 (or Day 10)?

When a contract is dispatched to your Qiwa account, an automated system clock starts immediately. Depending on the specific workflow (new hire, job transfer offer, or annual contract amendment), the review duration is set to 7 or 10 calendar days:

1. If You Accept Within the Window

The contract status transitions immediately to Authenticated (موثق). The contract terms synchronize in real-time with:

General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI): To calculate monthly annuity and hazard contribution splits.
Mudad Wage Protection System (WPS): To establish the baseline payroll compliance ratio.
Muqeem & Ministry of Interior (MOI): To unlock work permit renewal and Iqama issuance.

2. If You Reject Within the Window

The request is closed with the status Rejected by Employee (مرفوض من قبل الموظف). The system notifies the employer via Qiwa Business, displaying your recorded reason. Your prior authenticated contract (if any) remains 100% active and legally enforceable.

3. If You Do Nothing (Timer Expiration)

If the countdown reaches zero without an action from the worker, Qiwa applies an automated statutory cancellation:

The pending offer expires with the status Cancelled due to Inaction (ملغي لعدم الرد).
For new sponsorship transfer offers, the transfer request is dropped, and the employee remains under their existing sponsor.
For contract amendments with an existing employer, the proposed changes are discarded, and your original terms remain in force.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: How to Accept a Qiwa Contract

Follow this verified procedure to review and accept an employment contract on Qiwa Individuals:

Step 1: Portal Access & Nafath Single Sign-On

1Navigate to the official portal: https://qiwa.sa.
2Click Login (تسجيل الدخول) in the top navigation bar and select Individual Account (حساب الأفراد).
3Select National Unified Access (Nafath / نفاذ).
4Input your Iqama Number (for expatriate residents) or National ID (for Saudi citizens).
5A two-digit verification number will appear on your computer screen.
6Open the Nafath App on your registered smartphone, approve the login request, and select the matching two-digit number to complete biometric verification.

Step 2: Navigate to Contract Requests

1Once inside your dashboard, click on Services (الخدمات) from the top navigation.
2Select Work & Contracts → Contract Management (إدارة العقود).
3If an employer has dispatched a contract, you will see an active banner labeled: Pending Request: Awaiting Employee Action (بانتظار موافقة الموظف).
4Click on View Contract Details (عرض تفاصيل العقد).

Step 3: Comprehensive Clause Audit

Before clicking accept, scroll through every section and verify:

Basic Salary (*Al-Ajr Al-Asasi*): Ensure this matches your signed offer letter.
Allowances: Confirm that Housing, Transportation, and other fixed recurring allowances are separately line-itemed.
Contract Duration: Check the start date and whether the contract is fixed-term (specified) or open-ended.
Probation Period: Ensure it does not exceed the statutory 90-day ceiling (Article 53).
Working Hours: Verify that daily hours do not exceed 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week (Article 98).

Step 4: Digital Signature & Acceptance

1At the bottom of the page, check the statutory declaration box confirming you have read and agreed to the terms.
2Click the green button: Accept Contract (الموافقة على العقد).
3An automated confirmation SMS with an MHRSD reference number will be sent to your mobile phone.
4The contract status changes instantly to Authenticated (موثق).

When and How to Reject an Unfair Qiwa Contract

Many workers mistakenly believe they are legally obligated to accept whatever contract their employer submits on Qiwa. This is incorrect. You have an absolute legal right to reject any contract that diverges from agreed terms.

Statutory Safeguards & Rights Protection

Mandatory protections enforced by MHRSD & Saudi Labor Law

1
Unilateral Wage Reduction ProtectionAn employer cannot reduce your basic salary or allowances without mutual written consent. Rejection protects your Article 88 wage rights.
2
Job Title & Accreditation SafeguardsReject any contract listing a profession lower than your real duties or requiring accreditations (SCE/SOCPA) you do not hold.
3
Unlawful Probation ClausesUnder Article 54, an existing employee cannot be placed on a second probation period. Reject any re-probation attempts.
4
Excessive Notice Period DemandsThe statutory notice period for monthly employees is 60 days (Article 75). Reject arbitrary 120-day or 180-day clauses.
5
Inaccurate Working HoursReject contracts demanding 10-12 hours per day without explicit overtime payment clauses complying with Article 107.

Step-by-Step Rejection Process:

1Follow the login steps above to open the pending contract in Qiwa Individuals.
2Scroll to the bottom of the contract view and click the red button: Reject Contract (رفض العقد).
3A modal dialog will appear prompting you to specify the Reason for Rejection:

- Wage discrepancy (Salary lower than agreed offer)

- Incorrect job title or occupational category

- Dispute regarding contract duration or renewal clauses

- Dispute regarding probation period terms

- Other statutory non-compliance

4Type a clear, professional explanation in the comments box (e.g., "The basic salary listed is SAR 4,000, whereas the signed recruitment offer stipulates SAR 6,000 basic plus SAR 1,500 housing").
5Click Confirm Rejection (تأكيد الرفض).
6The rejection is timestamped in the MHRSD system, providing you with written proof in case of future labor disputes.

Employer Retaliation Protection: Can You Be Fired or Reported Absent?

A frequent fear among expatriate workers is that rejecting an amended contract will prompt the employer to file an "Absence from Work" (Inqita' an al-Amal / Huroob) report or issue a retaliatory Final Exit.

Under current Saudi regulations:

1Malicious Inqita' Block: Employers cannot file an Absence from Work report against an employee who is actively reporting to work and disputing contractual terms. Doing so constitutes a criminal filing punishable by fines of SAR 20,000 and blacklisting of the establishment under Ministerial Decision No. 51848.
2Preservation of Pre-Existing Terms: Rejecting a proposed amendment does not terminate your employment relationship. It simply means the proposed amendment is invalid, and your original authenticated contract continues to govern your employment.
3MHRSD Amicable Settlement Recourse: If an employer threatens dismissal because you refused an unlawful contract amendment, file an immediate electronic complaint through the Amicable Settlement (Waddi) portal on mol.gov.sa. Labor conciliators will enforce your original terms and protect your job security.

Comparison Table: Actions & Legal Outcomes

Action TakenWindow DurationImmediate System EffectImpact on Sponsorship / Iqama
Accept ContractWithin 7–10 DaysContract transitions to Authenticated. Real-time sync with GOSI & WPS.Unlocks Iqama renewal and work permit extension.
Reject ContractWithin 7–10 DaysContract cancelled. Sponsoring HR notified with objection comments.Prior authenticated contract remains active; zero negative impact on Iqama.
Inaction (Timeout)Exactly on Day 7/10Contract auto-expires as Cancelled due to Inaction. Request dissolves.Proposed changes dropped; employee status remains unchanged.
Employer WithdrawsPrior to Employee ActionEmployer cancels draft in Qiwa Business before worker signs.Request disappears from Qiwa Individuals dashboard.

Top 5 Technical Errors & Troubleshooting Fixes

1. SMS Not Received with Verification Link

Root Cause: Your mobile number is not updated in the National Unified Access (Nafath / Absher) system.
Resolution: Qiwa does not use third-party SMS gateways; it pulls your verified mobile number directly from your Absher profile. Update your mobile number in Absher, wait 15 minutes for government databases to refresh, and log into Qiwa directly via Nafath without waiting for the SMS link.

2. "Action Failed: Contract Already Authenticated or Cancelled"

Root Cause: The employer cancelled the request in Qiwa Business while you were reviewing it, or the 7–10 day statutory window expired minutes before submission.
Resolution: Refresh your browser, check the Contract History tab, and ask HR to re-dispatch a fresh contract request if the timer expired.

3. Missing Two-Digit Verification Prompt on Nafath App

Root Cause: Smartphone operating system battery optimization killed background notifications for the Nafath app.
Resolution: Open the Nafath application manually before clicking submit on Qiwa, ensure your phone is connected to high-speed internet, and refresh the app screen to reveal the two-digit authentication prompt.

4. Contract Terms Shown in English Differ from Arabic Text

Root Cause: Translation discrepancies between bilingual contract fields.
Resolution: Under Article 9 of the Saudi Labor Law, the Arabic text is the sole authoritative and governing language before Saudi courts and MHRSD committees. If there is a discrepancy between the English and Arabic clauses, the Arabic version legally prevails. Always verify the Arabic text before clicking accept!

5. Cannot Reject Due to Missing Mandatory Comments Field

Root Cause: Modern Qiwa interface updates require employees to input at least 15 characters of explanatory feedback when selecting "Reject Contract".
Resolution: Provide specific details in the text box explaining why you are rejecting the contract (e.g., "Salary does not match contractual agreement").

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can an employer force me to sign a paper contract that is different from Qiwa?

No. Under Saudi labor law, paper contracts signed in offices have zero legal standing if they contradict the authenticated Qiwa digital terms. Any employer attempting to enforce lower wages or harsher conditions based on a signed paper document violates MHRSD regulations.

Does rejecting an amended contract cancel my current Iqama?

No. Rejecting an amendment leaves your active authenticated contract intact. Your current Iqama validity and legal residency status in the Kingdom are completely unaffected.

Can I accept a contract on Qiwa from outside Saudi Arabia?

Yes. If you have an active Nafath account, you can access Qiwa Individuals from anywhere in the world and accept your employment contract prior to traveling to the Kingdom.

What should I do if my employer refuses to amend an inaccurate contract after I rejected it?

If you rejected an inaccurate contract and the employer refuses to correct the terms while threatening termination or wage withholding, submit an electronic grievance through the MHRSD Waddi Portal (التسوية الودية). The ministry conciliator will summon the employer to enforce agreed terms.

How many times can a contract be rejected on Qiwa?

There is no legal limit on how many times an employee can reject inaccurate contract drafts. However, repeated rejections should be documented with written correspondence to avoid operational delays.

Need Legal Assistance with Contract Verification & Labor Rights?

For corporate workforce compliance audits, executive contract reviews, or representation before MHRSD conciliation committees, explore our comprehensive Qiwa Platform Master Manual or consult our regulatory legal team for personalized guidance.