Article 16 of the Saudi Employee Discipline Law
المادة 16 من نظام الانضباط الوظيفي
The article requires the government body to give the Ministry of Human Resources, the Authority, the General Court of Audit and the employee a copy of the penalty decision, with the Regulations setting the procedures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تزود الجهة الحكومية المختصة وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية، والهيئة، والديوان العام للمحاسبة، والموظف صاحب الشأن؛ بصورة من القرار الصادر عنها بإيقاع الجزاء ضده، وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات ذلك.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article regulates notification of the penalty decision that the government body issues against the employee. The competent government body must give a copy of the decision to each of:
- The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
- The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority.
- The General Court of Audit.
- The employee concerned himself.
Under the text of the article the employee therefore has the right to obtain a copy of the decision imposing the penalty on him. The procedures for providing it are set by the Implementing Regulations, and the article does not state a specific period or method.
This article comes after Article 15, which allows the Authority to propose a penalty and refer the file to the administrative body to issue the penalty decision as it sees fit, and before Article 17, which regulates the decision to suspend an employee from duty.
If an employee does not receive a copy of the penalty decision issued against him or wishes to object to it, it is appropriate to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
A decision was issued giving a written warning to a female employee of a government body in Riyadh. Under Article 16, the body must give the employee herself a copy of the decision, in addition to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority and the General Court of Audit, under the procedures set by the Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Employee Discipline Law
Is an employee entitled to a copy of the penalty decision?
Yes. The article requires the government body to give the employee concerned a copy of the decision imposing the penalty on him.
Which bodies are given the penalty decision?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, the General Court of Audit, and the employee concerned.
How are these bodies given the penalty decision?
The Implementing Regulations set the procedures for this.
More articles on Administrative Investigation of an Employee
- Article 4
The article requires the employee to be investigated, confronted and heard in writing before any penalty, with a reasoned decision, and bars filling the dismissed employee's job before the decision becomes unchallengeable or the judgment final.
1- لا يجوز إيقاع أي جزاء على الموظف إلَّا بعد التحقيق معه، ومواجهته بالمخالفة المنسوبة إليه، وسماع أقواله، وتحقيق دفاعه، وإثبات ذلك كتابة في محضر. ويكون القرار
- Article 9
The article provides for forming, by decision of the Minister, one or more committees in each government body to consider and investigate employee violations, chaired by a legal specialist.
تشكل لجنة -أو أكثر بحسب الحال- بقرار من الوزير في كل جهة حكومية، تتولى النظر في المخالفات التي يرتكبها الموظفون والتحقيق فيها، وتحدد اللائحة عدد أعضاء كل من الل
- Article 10
The article regulates referring the employee to the committee and the Minister's approval of its recommendations, considering dismissal in a special committee, proportionality and non-duplication of penalties, and the Minister's right to refer to the Authority.
مع مراعاة ما نصت عليه كلٌّ من المادتين (الحادية عشرة) و(الثانية عشرة) من النظام: 1- إذا ظهر للجهة ارتكاب موظف لمخالفة، فيحال إلى اللجنة للتحقيق معه للنظر في إيق
- Article 14
The article allows the body employing an employee finally sentenced to a criminal penalty that does not require dismissal by operation of law to refer him to the committee if it considers his act breaches his job duties.
إذا صدر على الموظف حكم قضائي نهائي في دعوى جزائية بعقوبة غير موجبة للفصل بقوة النظام؛ فلجهة عمله إذا رأت أن ارتكابه للفعل يمثل إخلالًا بواجبات وظيفته، أن تحيل ا
- Article 15
The article allows the Authority, in the cases it considers, to close the investigation or propose a penalty specifying the acts attributed, and to refer the file to the employee's body to issue the penalty decision as it sees fit.
للهيئة -في الحالات التي تنظرها- أن تحفظ التحقيق، أو أن تقترح الجزاء المناسب على الموظف، مع بيان الأفعال المنسوبة إليه على وجه التحديد، وتحيل المعاملة إلى جهته ا
- Article 19
The article suspends administrative proceedings on the violation and violations connected with it if the employee is referred to criminal investigation or trial over it, until those proceedings end.
في الأحوال التي يتقرر فيها إحالة الموظف إلى التحقيق، أو المحاكمة جنائيًّا، في مخالفة بوشرت فيها إجراءات إدارية أو في مخالفات مرتبطة بها؛ توقف الإجراءات الإدارية
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.