Article 23 bis of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 23 مكرر من نظام التقاعد المدني
Payment of the retirement gratuity requires reaching sixty or death, a pension is due after ten years of service and age sixty, and someone with five years may request a notional period be added to qualify for a pension.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
- تم إضافة هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/118) وتاريخ 1443/11/16هـ، وتكون بالنص الآتي:
" 1- يشترط لصرف المكافأة - المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة عشرة) والمادة (الثالثة والعشرين) من هذا النظام - بلوغ سن (الستين)، أو الوفاة، أيهما أسبق.
2- إذا انتهت خدمة الموظف دون أن تبلغ مدتها ما يعطيه الحق في المعاش، وكانت مدة خدمته (عشر) سنوات على الأقل، وبلغ سن (الستين)، فيستحق معاشاً.
3- إذا انتهت خدمة الموظف دون أن تبلغ مدتها ما يعطيه الحق في المعاش، وكانت مدة خدمته (خمس) سنوات على الأقل، وبلغ سن (الستين)، فيجوز له - ليستحق معاشاً - أن يطلب ضم مدة اعتبارية إلى مدة خدمته على ألا يتجاوز المجموع - بعد الضم - (عشر) سنوات، وعليه - في هذه الحالة - أن يؤدي إلى المؤسسة كامل الحصص المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة عشرة) من هذا النظام عن كل شهر من المدة المضمومة محسوبة على أساس مرتبه الشهري الأخير، وتؤدى هذه الحصص إما دفعة واحدة، أو على أقساط شهرية".
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 23 bis explained in plain English
This Article was added by Royal Decree No. M/118 dated 16/11/1443 AH, and contains three provisions:
1. Condition for paying the gratuity: Payment of the gratuity provided for in Article 18 and Article 23 requires reaching the age of sixty or death, whichever is earlier. The gratuity in Article 18 is the gratuity of someone whose combined civil and military service does not reach the pension period, and in Article 23 that of someone whose service ended without reaching the pension period.
2. Pension after 10 years: If the employee's service ends without reaching the pension period, his period of service was at least 10 years, and he has reached the age of sixty, he is entitled to a pension.
3. Adding a notional period: If his service ends without reaching the pension period, his period of service was at least 5 years, and he has reached sixty, he may, in order to be entitled to a pension, request that a notional period be added to his service, on these conditions:
- The total after the addition may not exceed 10 years.
- He must pay the Institution the full shares provided for in Article 13 for each month of the added period, calculated on the basis of his last monthly salary. Article 13 provides for a deduction of 9% of the employee's salary and a matching share paid by the employer body.
- These shares are paid either in a single payment or in monthly installments.
Article 23 refers expressly to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article and excepts them from the gratuity rule, so someone to whom either applies is entitled to a pension, not a gratuity. Because these provisions are recent and depend on length of service and age, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in retirement and administrative matters before deciding on the addition.
Practical example
Hind worked in a government body for 7 years and her service then ended, and she reached sixty. Her service is not enough to be entitled to a pension, but she may request that 3 notional years be added so that the total becomes 10 years, on condition that she pays the full shares for each month of the added period based on her last monthly salary, in a single payment or in monthly installments.
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 23 bis of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
When is a retirement gratuity paid to a government employee?
Payment of the gratuity provided for in Articles 18 and 23 requires reaching the age of sixty or death, whichever is earlier.
Am I entitled to a pension if I served 10 years?
If service ends without reaching the pension period, it was at least 10 years, and the employee has reached sixty, he is entitled to a pension.
What is meant by adding a notional period?
Someone who served at least 5 years and has reached sixty may request that a period be added to his service so as to be entitled to a pension, provided the total does not exceed 10 years and he pays the full shares provided for in Article 13 for each month added.
How do I pay the shares for the added period?
They are paid either in a single payment or in monthly installments, calculated on the basis of the last monthly salary.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 13
A 9% deduction is taken from the salary of the employee covered by the Law each month, the Ministry of Finance or the public body pays a matching share, and the Council of Ministers may increase the government's share.
يقتطع من الموظف المنتفع بهذا النظام (9%) من مرتبه شهريًّا، كما تؤدي وزارة المالية والاقتصاد الوطني أو الهيئة العامة حصة مماثلة لما يؤديه الموظف، ويجوز بقرار من
- Article 18Amended (1403 AH)
An employee is entitled to a pension after 25 years of counted service, or 20 years at his request with the appointing authority's approval, or 15 years if his post is abolished or he is dismissed other than for disciplinary reasons, and in other cases.
1 - يستحق الموظف معاشًا عند نهاية خدمته متى بلغت خدمته المحسوبة في التقاعد خمسًا وعشرين سنة على الأقل، أو بلغت خدمته المدنية والعسكرية المحسوبة في التقاعد خمسًا
- Article 23Amended by M/118
An employee whose service ends before reaching pension eligibility receives a gratuity of 14% of the annual salary for each year, or 10% if service ends by resignation or disciplinary dismissal.
فيما عدا الحالات المنصوص عليها في المواد السابقة والحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الفقرتين (2) و(3) من المادة (الثالثة والعشرين مكرر)، إذا انتهت خدمة الموظف، ولم تبل
More articles on Conditions for Entitlement to a Retirement Pension
- Article 18Amended (1403 AH)
An employee is entitled to a pension after 25 years of counted service, or 20 years at his request with the appointing authority's approval, or 15 years if his post is abolished or he is dismissed other than for disciplinary reasons, and in other cases.
1 - يستحق الموظف معاشًا عند نهاية خدمته متى بلغت خدمته المحسوبة في التقاعد خمسًا وعشرين سنة على الأقل، أو بلغت خدمته المدنية والعسكرية المحسوبة في التقاعد خمسًا
- Article 35
The article provides that entitlement to the pension begins for the retiree on the day after the end of service, and for the beneficiaries on the day after the retiree's death.
يبدأ استحقاق المعاش بالنسبة للمتقاعد من اليوم التالي لتاريخ انتهاء خدمته، وبالنسبة للمستحقين عنه من تاريخ اليوم التالي لوفاته.
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.