Saudi Arabia announced Saturday the enforcement of a legislation aimed at protecting domestic workers' rights, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Under the new law, domestic workers are entitled to nine hours' rest daily and one day off weekly. They can also claim paid sick leaves and paid one-month leave after two years' employment.

Employers have no rights to assign domestic workers with risky or degrading tasks according to the law.

The penalties set out in the legislation apply to both workers and employers who violate their mutual contracts, said Zeyad Al Sayagh, undersecretary of Labor Ministry for Client Services and Labor Relations.

Employers who violated the contract shall pay a fine of $53or shall be banned from hiring workers for one year; for second time violation, employers shall face a fine of 1,333 dollars and a three-year hiring ban; for third time violation, employers shall get a permanent hiring ban.

For their part, workers who breach the contract shall be fined and banished from the country.

Meanwhile, the legislation gives the right to employers to put workers on a three-month probation, and stipulates that workers should respect the Islamic and Saudi regulations and values.

It also bans workers from leaving the job without valid reasons and taking a private job.