The Implementing Regulations of the Saudi Labour Law (اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام العمل) fill in the detail the Labour Law states only in general terms: how wages and leave are calculated, the procedure for investigations and disciplinary penalties, how working hours and overtime are organised, and more. Anyone looking into their rights at work usually needs both: the article in the Law, and its detail in the Regulations. Here we set out the main topics the Regulations cover and link each one to our detailed guide.
The Law and the Regulations: what is the difference?
The Labour Law is issued by Royal Decree and sets the general rules and basic rights. The Implementing Regulations are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to detail how the Law is applied, and they may not contradict it. The Regulations are updated more often than the Law, so always refer to the current version. Read our guide to the Saudi Labour Law.
The main topics in the Regulations
| Topic | What matters to you | Read |
|---|---|---|
| The employment contract and its registration | Contract details, electronic registration, and the probation period | Employment contract template |
| Wages | Payment dates, what counts as wage, and deductions from wages and their limits | End-of-service calculator |
| Working hours and overtime | The maximum hours, overtime pay, and the weekly rest day | Labour Law guide |
| Leave | Annual, sick, maternity and other leave, and the conditions for entitlement | Labour Law guide |
| Investigations and penalties | The procedure for investigating a worker before a penalty, and the right to a defence | Article 80 |
| End of contract and end of service | Notice, the end-of-service award, and the service certificate | Article 74 |
| Foreign workers | Work permits, transfer of services, and absence from work | The sponsorship (kafala) system |
| The company's work regulations | The internal violations and penalties that must be approved and announced | Corporate governance |
How to use the Regulations in your dispute
- Identify the article in the Labour Law that covers your problem.
- Look in the Regulations for its detail and procedure.
- Compare it with your contract and your employer's work regulations; as a rule, whichever is better for the worker applies.
- If there is a dispute, the route is an amicable settlement first, then the Labour Court. Read filing a labour case.
The Regulations are amended from time to time, and the current official version is published on the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The official text is in Arabic, and any filing with the Labour Court is in Arabic too.
Frequently asked questions
If my contract conflicts with the Regulations, which applies?
As a rule, a term that reduces the worker's statutory rights is void, and a term in the contract that is better for the worker is valid.
Do the Regulations apply to domestic workers?
Domestic workers have their own regulations, so the Labour Law and its Regulations do not, as a rule, apply to them.
A labour dispute that needs a careful reading of the Law and the Regulations?
The team at Usus Law Firm handles labour cases for employees and employers, and drafts work regulations for companies, in Riyadh and Tabuk.
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
Request a quick consultation
Leave your name and mobile number, and a lawyer from our Riyadh or Tabuk office will call you during working hours. We advise in English.
