Article 31 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 31 من نظام التقاعد المدني
A pensioner who returns to a post covered by the Law has his pension suspended during that service, and on its end he is treated by whichever of two methods is better for him.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بما جاء في المادة الثامنة والعشرون، إذا عاد صاحب المعاش إلى الخدمة في إحدى الوظائف التي ينتفع شاغلها بأحكام هذا النظام يوقف صرف معاشه طيلة مدة استخدامه ويعامل عند انتهاء خدمته الأخيرة وفقًا لإحدى الطريقتين التاليتين، أيهما الأصلح له:
1 - يسوى المعاش على أساس مجموع مدتي خدمته السابقة والأخيرة.
2 - يسوى عن المدة الأخيرة معاش مهما بلغت مدة خدمته وفقًا لأحكام هذا النظام ويضاف إليه المعاش الذي كان يتقاضاه قبل عودته إلى الخدمة على أنه إذا كان المعاش السابق قد استحق تطبيقًا لغير نظام التقاعد المدني فيعامل صاحبه عند انتهاء خدمته الخاضعة لنظام التقاعد المدني وفقًا للطريقة الأخيرة.
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 31 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the case of a pensioner who returns to service in a post whose holder benefits from the provisions of this Law, without prejudice to Article 28.
During service: Payment of his pension is suspended throughout the period of his employment.
On the end of his last service: He is treated under the method that is better for him of the two:
- The pension is settled on the basis of the total of his earlier and last periods of service.
- A pension is settled for the last period, however long it was, under the provisions of the Law, and the pension he was receiving before his return is added to it.
An exception: If the earlier pension was due under a law other than the Civil Retirement Law, he is treated when his service under the Civil Retirement Law ends by the second method only.
Relationship to Article 28: Article 28 suspends the pension of the pensioner or beneficiaries if they are appointed to permanent government posts with a salary equal to or exceeding the pension, pays the difference if the salary is less, and allows combining if the total does not exceed SAR 400. This Article states that it does not affect that provision.
It is followed by Article 32, which regulates counting earlier service for someone who is reinstated and had received a gratuity or compensation for it. Because choosing the better method depends on the figures, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in retirement and administrative matters.
Practical example
Sulaiman retired after 25 years of service with a pension calculated under the Law, then returned to a government post covered by the Civil Retirement Law for 5 years, and his pension was suspended throughout that period. When his last service ends, a comparison is made between a pension for 30 combined years and a pension for the last five years added to his earlier pension, and he is given the one that is better for him.
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 31 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Is a retiree's pension suspended if he returns to a government job?
If he returns to a post whose holder benefits from the provisions of the Law, payment of his pension is suspended throughout his period of employment, without prejudice to Article 28.
How is a retiree's pension calculated after his second service ends?
By the method that is better for him: either a pension on the total of the two periods, or a pension for the last period with his earlier pension added.
What if my earlier pension was under another retirement law?
If the earlier pension was due under a law other than the Civil Retirement Law, he is treated by the second method.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Combining Pension and Salary
- Article 28
Payment of the pension stops if its holder or beneficiary is appointed to a permanent government post with a salary equal to or above the pension; a shortfall is paid, and combining is allowed up to SAR 400.
يقف صرف المعاش عن صاحب المعاش أو المستحقين إذا عين أو عينوا في وظائف ثابتة في الحكومة أو كانوا معينين فيها كذلك عند وفاة صاحب المعاش بشرط أن يكون راتب الموظف مع
- Article 29
A beneficiary may not receive more than one pension; the larger is paid, but several may be combined if their total does not exceed SAR 300 per month.
لا يجوز لأي مستحق الحصول على أكثر من معاش، فإذا استحق لشخص واحد أكثر من معاش بموجب هذا النظام أو أنظمة التقاعد الأخرى أدي إليه المعاش الأكبر، على أنه يجوز الجمع
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.