Saudi Worker Rights Guide: Pay, Leave, Complaints & More
Learn about Saudi worker rights, including salary, overtime, working hours, leave, end-of-service benefits, labor complaints, job transfer, profession change and passport protection.
يوضح هذا الدليل أهم حقوق العمال في السعودية وحقوق العامل في السعودية وفق المعلومات واللوائح المنشورة من وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية. يشمل الدليل الأجور والعمل الإضافي وساعات العمل والإجازات ومكافأة نهاية الخدمة والشكاوى العمالية ونقل خدمات العامل وتغيير المهنة والاحتفاظ بجواز السفر.
Quick answer
Workers in Saudi Arabia have rights covering wages, working hours, rest periods, annual leave, overtime, end-of-service benefits and access to official labor-dispute channels. Non-Saudi workers also have protections concerning documents such as passports under the applicable rules.
Saudi Worker Rights at a Glance
Salary & Wages
Understand wage payment, deductions and the main overtime payment rules.
Salary guide →Working Hours & Leave
Learn about working hours, breaks, weekly rest and annual leave.
Working hours guide →End of Service Benefit
Understand the main rules used for calculating end-of-service benefits.
EOSB guide →Labor Complaints
Learn what to do when there is an unpaid salary or another workplace dispute.
Complaint guide →Job Transfer
Understand the official process and services related to expatriate worker transfer.
Transfer guide →Passport Protection
Review the official labor-education guidance concerning retention of worker documents.
Passport guide →Salary Payment & Overtime
Saudi labor rules set requirements for wage payment and regulate deductions. Overtime is paid in addition to the normal wage according to the applicable rules.
Overtime
The HRSD guidance states that overtime compensation is based on the hourly wage plus an additional amount equal to 50% of the basic wage.
Working Hours, Breaks & Annual Leave
General working hours are no more than 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. During Ramadan, Muslim workers have reduced working hours of 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week.
Working Hours
General limit: 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week, subject to applicable exceptions.
Breaks
Workers should not work more than five consecutive hours without a break of at least 30 minutes.
Annual Leave
Annual leave is at least 21 days per year and increases to 30 days after five consecutive years.
End-of-Service Benefit
HRSD provides an official End of Service Benefit Calculator. The calculation uses information such as actual wage, contract type, termination reason and length of service.
Official calculation service
Use the HRSD End of Service Benefit Calculator when you need to estimate the benefit based on your employment details.
How to File a Labor Complaint
If you have a qualifying labor dispute, HRSD’s Friendly Settlement service is the first stage for eligible disputes. The electronic service is free and is available in Arabic, English and Urdu.
Prepare your information
Keep your employment and dispute details ready.
Open HRSD
Use the official HRSD website and labor services.
Submit the complaint
Enter the required information and submit the claim.
Follow the case
Follow the Friendly Settlement process and its next steps.
Job Transfer & Profession Change
Current HRSD services include establishment-side services for transferring expatriate workers and changing an expatriate worker’s profession through the relevant electronic channels.
Expatriate Worker Transfer
Eligible establishments can use the electronic service to transfer a non-Saudi employee between establishments.
Profession Change
Eligible establishments can request profession changes through the Qiwa electronic service.
Employment Contract
Contract creation and employee approval or amendment requests are handled through the relevant Qiwa process.
Can an Employer Keep Your Passport?
HRSD’s Labor Education FAQ states that an employer may not withhold the passport, residence permit or medical insurance card of a non-Saudi worker under the applicable implementing regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can I work?
General working hours are no more than 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week, subject to applicable exceptions.
How much annual leave do workers get?
At least 21 days per year, increasing to 30 days after five consecutive years.
Where can I raise a labor dispute?
Eligible labor disputes can start through HRSD’s Friendly Settlement service.
Can an employer keep my passport?
HRSD labor-education guidance says employers may not withhold the passport and specified documents of non-Saudi workers under the applicable rules.
Related KSA Digital Guide Resources
Need help understanding your worker rights?
Use the official HRSD services and guidance for current rules, complaints and employment-related services.