Article 29 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
المادة 29 من نظام الخدمة المدنية · الفصل الخامس: الإجازات والإعارة
Article 29 allows an employee's services to be seconded, with his consent, to work for an entity other than his employer, and allows a government entity to borrow the services of someone not covered by the Law, under rules set by the Regulation.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
أ- تجوز إعارة خدمات الموظف - بعد موافقته - للعمل لدى غير جهة عمله، بما في ذلك الحكومات، أو الهييئات، او المنظمات الدولية، أو المؤسسات غير الربحية.
ب- يجوز للجهة الحكومية أن تستعير خدمات من ليس مشمولاً بنظام الخدمة المدنية.
وتحدد اللائحة قواعد الإعارة والاستعارة
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 29 explained in plain English
This article regulates secondment and borrowing:
First: secondment of the employee (paragraph a)
- An employee's services may be seconded to work for an entity other than his employer.
- The employee's consent is required; under the article, secondment does not take place without it.
- This includes, for example: governments, authorities, international organizations and non-profit institutions. The phrase "including" means these entities are examples, not an exhaustive list.
Second: borrowing (paragraph b)
A government entity may borrow the services of someone who is not covered by the Civil Service Law, that is, make use of the services of a person from outside the scope of the Law.
Third: referral to the Regulation
The Regulation sets the rules of secondment and borrowing; the article does not state the term of a secondment, the financial rights during it, or its procedures.
The article was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/57) dated 24/5/1438 AH, and then amended again to take its current text stated above, which is the text relied on in this explanation.
Article 28 provides that the Regulation sets the types, terms and conditions of the leaves and periods of absence that the employee is entitled to or is permitted to take.
Anyone offered a secondment who wants to know its effect on his job rights would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and civil service matters.
Practical example
A female employee at a ministry in Riyadh receives an offer to work for an international organization. Under this article, her services may be seconded to that organization with her consent, and the secondment is governed by the rules set by the Regulation.
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 29 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
Can a government employee be seconded without his consent?
Article 29 provides that an employee's services may be seconded with his consent.
To which entities can a government employee be seconded?
To work for an entity other than his employer, including governments, authorities, international organizations or non-profit institutions.
May a government entity borrow a person from outside the Law?
Yes. A government entity may borrow the services of someone not covered by the Civil Service Law, under rules set by the Regulation.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/57 — 24/5/1438 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/ 57) بتاريخ 24/ 5/ 1438هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"أ - تجوز إعارة خدمات الموظف بعد موافقته للعمل لدى الأجهزة ذوات الشخصية المعنوية العامة، أو الخاصة، أو الحكومات، أو الهيئات، أو المنظمات الدولية.
ب - يجوز للجهة الإدارية أن تستعير للعمل لديها أحد موظفي الأجهزة ذوات الشخصية المعنوية العامة، أو الخاصة، أو أحد موظفي الحكومات، أو الهيئات، أو المنظمات الدولية.
وتحدد اللائحة قواعد الاستعارة والإعارة".
Amendment
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تعديل المادة لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"أ- تجوز إعارة خدمات الموظف - بعد موافقته - للعمل لدى غير جهة عمله، بما في ذلك الحكومات، أو الهييئات، او المنظمات الدولية، أو المؤسسات غير الربحية.
ب- يجوز للجهة الحكومية أن تستعير خدمات من ليس مشمولاً بنظام الخدمة المدنية.
وتحدد اللائحة قواعد الإعارة والاستعارة".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجوز إعارة الموظف بعد موافقته للعمل لدى المؤسسات العامة أو الخاصة أو الحكومات أو الهيئات الدولية وتحدد اللائحة قواعد الإعارة.
More articles on Employee Leave and Secondment
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.