Article 17 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 17 من نظام التقاعد المدني
Secondment and unpaid study leave count toward retirement if the deductions due are paid on the basis of the full salary of the original post, with rules for how and when they are paid and the effect of failing to pay.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تدخل مدة الإعارة والإجازة الدراسية بدون مرتب ضمن المدد المحسوبة في التقاعد وتؤد الحسميات المستحقة عنها على أساس كامل مرتب الوظيفة الأصلية ويؤديها الموظف المعار شهريًّا، ويجوز لمجلس الإدارة حرمان الموظف المعار من احتساب المدة التي يتخلف عن أداء الحسميات المستحقة عنها، أما الموظف المجاز للدراسة فيؤديها بعد عودته للخدمة في وظيفة خاضعة لهذا النظام إما دفعة واحدة أو على أقساط شهرية لمدة لا تتجاوز فترة الإجازة الدراسية، وللمصلحة الحق في استيفاء هذه الأقساط في حالة انتهاء خدمة الموظف قبل الوفاء بها من المكافأة دفعة واحدة أو من المعاش الذي يستحق له أو للمستحقين عنه على أقساط شهرية بقدر نسبة (35%) من المعاش أو مجموع معاشات المستحقين، وإذا لم يعد الموظف المجاز للخدمة في وظيفة خاضعة لهذا النظام بسبب راجع إليه فلا تحتسب في تقاعده مدة الإجازة الدراسية.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 17 explained in plain English
This Article deals with two situations in which the employee is away from his post: secondment and unpaid study leave. The rule is that their periods count toward retirement, provided the deductions due on them are paid on the basis of the full salary of the original post.
The seconded employee:
- Pays the deductions monthly.
- The board of directors may deprive him of counting the period for which he fails to pay the deductions.
The employee on study leave:
- Pays the deductions after returning to service in a post covered by the Law, either in a single payment or in monthly installments over a period not exceeding the period of the study leave.
- If his service ends before he has paid, the Agency may collect the installments from the gratuity in a single payment, or from the pension due to him or those entitled through him in monthly installments of up to 35% of the pension or of the total pensions of the beneficiaries.
- If he does not return to service in a post covered by the Law for a reason attributable to him, the period of study leave is not counted in his retirement.
This Article follows Article 16, which excludes unpaid leave from the counted period with the exception of study leave, and here sets out the conditions for counting it. If you have a dispute about counting your period of secondment or study, you may consult a lawyer who specializes in retirement and administrative matters.
Practical example
Sarah obtained unpaid study leave for two years and then returned to her government post. For the two years to count in her retirement, she pays the deductions for them on the basis of the full salary of her original post, either in a single payment or in monthly installments over a period not exceeding two years.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 17 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Is the period of secondment counted for retirement?
Yes, it counts among the periods included, and the seconded employee pays the deductions monthly. The board of directors may deprive him of counting the period for which he fails to pay the deductions.
When does someone on study leave pay the deductions?
After returning to service in a post covered by the Law, in a single payment or in monthly installments over a period not exceeding the period of the study leave.
What if the employee does not return to his post after studying?
If he does not return to service in a post covered by the Law for a reason attributable to him, the period of study leave is not counted in his retirement.
More articles on Service Counted Toward Retirement
- Article 16
Service counted for retirement is actual time spent in posts covered by the Law, excluding unauthorized absence, unpaid leave other than sick and study leave, periods of suspension from duty without pay, and fractions of a month.
مدة الخدمة التي تحسب في التقاعد هي المدد الفعلية التي قضيت في إحدى الوظائف المنصوص عليها في المادة الثانية من هذا النظام أو التي يكون شاغلها خاضعًا لأنظمة التقا
- Article 32
An employee who is reinstated may have earlier service counted if he applies within a year of returning and repays what he received for it, in a single payment within six months or in installments.
الموظف الذي يُعاد للخدمة في وظيفة خاضعة لأحكام هذا النظام ويكون قد سبق له أن تقاضى تعويضًا أو مكافأة أو عائدات تقاعدية في ظل الأنظمة السابقة أو يكون قد تقاضى مك
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.