Rights of Expatriate Workers in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi labor law places great importance on the rights of expatriate workers, guaranteeing them a set of basic rights aimed at providing a fair and safe work environment. The most prominent of these rights are: The employer must pay the agreed-upon wage to the expatriate worker without delay. The employer is required to pay wages via bank transfer to ensure transparency and documentation of financial transactions. The worker is entitled to a minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave, increasing to 30 days if the worker has served for more than five consecutive years. In addition, they are entitled to sick leave and paid leave for official and religious holidays. The law specifies working hours at eight hours per day and a maximum of 48 hours per week. These hours must be interspersed with a rest period or rest periods totaling no less than one hour, with the worker not working more than five consecutive hours without a rest period. The system guarantees expatriate workers protection from arbitrary dismissal, as the employer may not terminate the employment contract without a valid reason. If the contract is terminated without justification, the worker has the right to claim compensation for the damages incurred as a result of such termination. End-of-Service Gratuity: If the employment relationship ends, the worker is entitled to an end-of-service gratuity, which is calculated based on the length of service. Article 84 of the Saudi Labor Law stipulates that if the employment relationship ends, the employer is obligated to pay the worker a gratuity for the period of service, calculated on the basis of half a month’s wages for each of the first five years and one month’s wages for each of the following years. The final wage is used as the basis for calculating the gratuity, and the worker is entitled to a gratuity for parts of the year proportionate to the period spent at work. Article 85 stipulates that an employee is entitled to an end-of-service gratuity at varying rates upon resignation, as follows: One-third of the gratuity if the length of service ranges between two and five years. Two-thirds of the bonus if the worker’s service period exceeds five years and is less than ten years. The full bonus if the worker’s service period exceeds ten years. These articles reflect the system’s commitment to ensuring the rights of both the worker and the employer, taking into account the worker’s length of service when determining their entitlements. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: The system provides clear mechanisms for resolving labor disputes. A worker can file a complaint with the relevant labor office if they experience any violation of their rights. Hearing sessions are held to consider complaints and attempt to reach mutually satisfactory solutions. The Saudi labor system guarantees expatriate workers a set of rights aimed at providing a fair and safe work environment. It is important for both the worker and the employer to be aware of these rights and responsibilities to ensure a successful and sustainable employment relationship.