Royal Decree No. (M/14) for the year 1440

Type:	Royal Decree
Source:	The Royal Court
Date:	1440-02-22
Document Number:	م/14
Validity:	Valid
Summary:	By AI King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud issued a decree concerning labor disputes in Saudi Arabia, which includes several key points. First, individuals must apply to the Labor Office to amicably settle the dispute before filing a lawsuit in the court, with the possibility of extending this period to three years. Second, a new paragraph was added to the Law of Civil Procedure to regulate collective labor disputes. Third, the Labor Law was amended by adding two articles: the first prohibits accepting ...

By the grace of Allah Almighty
We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Based on Article (Seventy) of the Basic Law of Governance, issued by Royal Order No. (A/90) dated 27/8/1412 AH.
Based on Article (Twenty) of the Council of Ministers Law, issued by Royal Order No. (A/13) dated 3/3/1414 AH.
Based on Article (Eighteen) of the Shura Council Law, issued by Royal Order No. (A/91) dated 27/8/1412 AH.
After reviewing the Shura Council resolutions No. (10/47) dated 22/4/1439 AH, and No. (54/215) dated 28/1/1440 AH.
After reviewing the Council of Ministers resolution No. (117) dated 21/2/1440 AH.
We have decreed the following:
First:
- A- In labor lawsuits, before filing them before the Labor Court, an application must be submitted to the Labor Office - which has jurisdiction over the location of the workplace - to take the necessary procedures to amicably settle the dispute. The Minister of Labor and Social Development, in coordination with the Minister of Justice, shall issue the rules regulating this.
- B- The provisions of paragraph (A) of this clause shall apply for a period of (three) years starting from the commencement of the Labor Courts’ jurisdiction, and this period may be extended, if necessary, by a decision of the Council of Ministers, provided that the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Labor and Social Development submit a report including their evaluation thereof at least (six) months before the expiry of the period.
Second: Adding a paragraph to Article (Forty-One) of the Law of Civil Procedure, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/1) dated 22/1/1435 AH, bearing the order (3) as follows:
- "3- A- The rules and procedures established for other labor disputes shall apply to collective labor disputes, unless the Supreme Judicial Council decides otherwise.
- B- A labor dispute shall be considered collective when the dispute arises between one (or more) employers and all their workers, or a group thereof, due to work or working conditions."
Third: Adding two articles to the Labor Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/51) dated 23/8/1426 AH, amended by Royal Decree No. (M/46) dated 5/6/1436 AH, as follows:
1- Article (Two Hundred Thirty-Four):
- A- No lawsuit related to claiming any right stipulated in this law or arising from the employment contract shall be accepted before the Labor Courts after twelve months have passed from the date of termination of the employment relationship, unless the plaintiff presents an excuse accepted by the court, or the defendant issues an acknowledgment of the right.
- B- Labor lawsuits shall be considered urgent.
2- Article (Two Hundred Thirty-Five):
- The employer shall not, during the consideration of the lawsuit before the Labor Courts, change the employment conditions that were in effect before the commencement of the procedures in a manner that harms the worker’s position in the lawsuit.
Fourth: His Highness the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers, and the heads of the concerned independent agencies - each within his jurisdiction - shall implement this decree.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud