You fell ill and took leave: will your pay be cut, and can your employer dismiss you? The Saudi Labor Law sets fixed periods and pay for sick leave, and prevents ending the contract because of illness before the worker has used his entitlement.
Duration and pay
A worker whose illness is proven is entitled, within one year, continuous or not, to:
| Period | Pay |
|---|---|
| First 30 days | Full wage |
| Next 60 days | Three-quarters of the wage |
| Following 30 days | Unpaid |
A contract or company rules may give better terms, and the better term applies. Check the current official text of the Labor Law.
Proving sick leave
- Sick leave is issued electronically by the treating health provider through the Sehhaty platform.
- Tell your employer about the absence immediately; do not wait until you return.
- Keep a copy of every report: it is your evidence if pay is deducted or you are penalised for absence.
Can you be dismissed during sick leave?
An employer may not end the contract because of the worker's illness before the sick-leave periods are used up, and the worker may ask to add annual leave to sick leave. A dismissal for illness before that is unlawful, and the worker is owed Article 77 compensation on top of the end-of-service award.
Sick leave and work injury
If the illness results from work or an injury at work, work-injury rules apply and social insurance covers it on better terms. Do not record a work injury as ordinary illness.
If the employer breaches the rules
- Claim your dues in writing, citing the report numbers and dates.
- If there is no response, file for amicable settlement.
- If settlement fails, the case goes to the labour court.
Frequently asked questions
Is sick leave deducted from annual leave?
No. They are separate entitlements, unless the worker asks to combine them.
And during probation?
Probation has its own termination rules; read the probation period.
Pay cut or dismissed while ill?
The team at Usus Law Firm reviews your position and pursues the claim as part of its labour cases practice, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and advises in English.
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.
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