Saudi Arabia labour law for paid leaves in Saudi Arabia
The benefits of holidays, vacations, and leaves help to achieve a better work-life balance for employees, making workers happier and more productive for companies. It is never easy to manage employees’ leaves and vacations and link them to payroll calculations while staying in compliance with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s labour laws and regulations. Here is where the human resource management system like HR Chronicle plays a vital and significant one. HR Chronicle is the Leading HR and Payroll Management Software of the Middle East Region which is compliant with the Middle East labour laws and regulations. HR Chronicle fully automates the leave management system.
Below is the list of different types of leaves that are applied and regulated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Labor law and according to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
Annual Leave
A worker shall be entitled to a prepaid annual leave of not less than twenty-one (21) days, to be increased to a period of not less than thirty (30) days if the worker spends five consecutive years in the service of the employer.
A worker shall enjoy his leave in the year it is due. He may not forgo it or receive cash in lieu during his period of service. The employer may set the dates of such leave according to work requirements or may grant them in rotation to ensure the smooth progress of work. The employer shall notify the worker of the date of his leave in sufficient time of not less than thirty days.
Reference: Article (١٠٩)
Sick Leave
A worker whose illness has been proven shall be eligible for a paid sick leave for the first thirty (30) days, three-quarters of the wage (75% of pay) for the next sixty (60) days and without pay (unpaid) for the following thirty (30) days, during a single year, whether such leaves are continuous or intermittent. A single year shall mean the year which begins from the date of the first sick leave.
Reference: Article (١١٧)
Hajj Leave / Pilgrimage Leave
A worker shall be entitled to a paid leave of not less than ten (10) days and not more than (15) fifteen days, including the Eid Al-Adha holiday, to perform Hajj only once during his service if he has not performed it before. To be eligible for this leave, the worker must have spent at least two consecutive years of service with the employer. The employer may determine the number of workers who shall be given this leave annually in accordance with work requirements.
Reference: Article (١١٤)
Maternity Leave
A female worker shall be entitled to maternity leave for the four (4) weeks immediately preceding the expected date of delivery and the subsequent six (6) weeks. The probable date of delivery shall be determined by the physician of the firm or pursuant to a medical report certified by a health authority. A woman may not work during the six weeks immediately following delivery.
Reference: Article (١٥١)
During the maternity leave, an employer shall pay the female worker half her wage if she has been in his service for one year or more, and a full wage if she has served for three years or more as of the date of commencement of such leave. A female worker shall not be paid any wages during her regular annual leave if she has enjoyed the same year of maternity leave with full wage. She shall be paid half her wage during the annual leave if she has enjoyed in the same year a maternity leave at half wage.
Public Holidays
Below is a list of statutory public holidays for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Click here for a list of current holidays in Saudi Arabia.
- The worker shall be entitled to a 4-day EID AL-FITR holiday, starting from the day following the 29 of Ramadan, according to the UMM AL-QURA calendar.
- The worker shall be entitled to a 4-day EID AL-ADHA holiday, starting from the ARAFAT day.
- The worker shall be entitled to the National Holiday of the Kingdom on the first day of the Libra according to the UMM AL-QURA calendar; if this day Coincides with a weekend day, the worker shall be compensated by the previous or following day.
Personal Leave
A worker shall be entitled to one (1) day of paid leave in the case of childbirth and three (3) days for marriage or in the case of the death of a spouse or one of his ascendants and descendants.
Reference: Article (١١٣)
Examination Leave
A worker enrolled in an educational institution shall have the right to a fully paid leave to sit for an examination of an unrepeated year. Days of leave shall be based on the actual number of examination days. However, for the examinations of a repeated year, the worker shall be entitled to unpaid leave to sit for the examinations. The employer may require the worker to submit documents in support of the leave application as well as proof of having taken the examination. The worker shall apply for the leave at least fifteen days ahead of the due date. Without prejudice to disciplinary action, the worker shall be denied the wage if it is proven that he had not taken the examination.
Reference: Article (١١٥)
As you can see above there are many leave types which are mandated by the Labor Law of Saudi Arabia, however, depending on the industry and your work contract your company may have variations according to the nature of your work contract. For legal advice always consult a legal professional like a lawyer or the Ministry.
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Reference https://hrsd.gov.sa/sites/default/files/LABOR%20LAW.pdf
