Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), led by Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi, has issued a new ministerial decision updating the list of labor violations and penalties under the Saudi Labor Law and its executive regulations.
What Is the New Decision About?
The decision reorganizes and updates the schedule of violations and penalties. Several violations have been reclassified into clear categories based on the type of activity.
This initiative aims to:
- Improve the work environment
- Increase labor market stability
- Protect workers’ rights
- Enhance flexibility and attractiveness of the job market
- Support business growth and sustainability
The objective is to create a more efficient and stable labor market across all establishments in the Kingdom.
Why Were These Changes Made?
The ministry stated that the updates align with:
- Recent amendments to the Saudi Labor Law issued by Royal Order.
- Subsequent amendments to the executive regulations.
This ensures that violations and penalties are consistent with the latest legal revisions.
New Categories of Violations
The revised schedule categorizes violations to simplify compliance for businesses and employees.
- General violations – Applicable to all business activities.
- Mining and quarrying violations – Related to mining operations.
- Maritime employment contract violations – Concerning maritime work agreements.
- Operations and maintenance violations – For operation and maintenance companies.
- Human resources and recruitment company violations – For licensed HR firms.
- Recruitment office violations – For recruitment offices.
- Domestic worker violations – Related to the Law of Domestic Workers.
- Support services advertisement violations – Linked to advertising regulations.
- Unlicensed employment violations – Including employing Saudis, recruiting workers, or outsourcing without a license.
- Agricultural and shepherd worker violations – Concerning agricultural workers and private shepherds.
This classification provides clearer guidance and helps establishments better understand and comply with labor regulations.
When Will the New Penalties Take Effect?
The updated schedule of violations and penalties is effective immediately from the date of the ministerial decision.
The ministry has advised employers, employees, and stakeholders to review the complete details on its official website.
Public Consultation Through Istitla Platform
Before finalizing the amendments, the ministry shared the proposed updates on the Istitla Public Survey Platform to gather feedback from the public and stakeholders.
This reflects the ministry’s commitment to:
- Reviewing and improving labor market regulations
- Supporting business stability and economic growth
- Protecting workers’ rights
- Enhancing flexibility and competitiveness in the Saudi labor market
These updates form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to modernize labor regulations and strengthen the national workforce environment.
