Saudi Labor Law Amendments – 3 Updates
Expats have more Freedom to change Jobs
If certain requirements are met, an expatriate worker may now switch his services to another employer without having to wait at least one year following his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
According to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development has authorized a modification to the labor Law to this effect.
The updated regulations say that the present employer’s approval is required for the transfer, which must not violate the restrictions outlined in the Nitaqat Saudization programme for the private sector.
The new rule is one of three changes authorized by Minister Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi in the legislative articles of the Labor Law’s executive regulations.
According to labor legislation, an expatriate worker may transfer his services to another employer only after serving at least 12 months with his present employer from the date of his admission into the Kingdom. The minister also agreed to changes to two other articles concerning the transfer of service of foreign workers.
According to the new regulations, an expatriate worker can transfer his services to another company without a specified time limit provided the existing employer approves and the conditions of the Nitaqat stimulus programme for establishments to Saudize jobs are met. Trending Now: Saudi Arabia Visit Visa Extension & Thermal Camera Removed at Makkah
The second change was made in paragraph 7 of item 2 of Article 14 to say that “the expatriate worker has the right to transfer his services to another employer following the expiration of the time of the recorded work contract without the approval of the existing employer.”
The third amendment adds paragraph 21 to item 2 of Article 14, which reads: “With respect to the provisions of Article 77 of the Labor Law, the expatriate worker may transfer his employment to another company without the agreement of the existing employer when criteria are satisfied…”
- The conditions are as follows: the worker must have worked for the current employer for at least 12 months from the date of his entry into the Kingdom; the worker must notify the current employer of the transfer no less than 90 days before the end of the contractual relationship, unless the two parties agree otherwise. Watch More: Gulf Tech & News
“This decision voids any earlier decisions that are inconsistent with it,” the amendment added.
