Article 17 of the Saudi Employee Discipline Law
المادة 17 من نظام الانضباط الوظيفي
The article lets the government body, the Authority or the court suspend an employee from duty for a period or periods not exceeding two years, and treats a dismissed employee's service as ended from the date of suspension or detention, whichever is earlier.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تصدر الجهة الحكومية، أو الهيئة، أو المحكمة المختصة -كل بحسب اختصاصه وبما تقتضيه مصلحة العمل، أو التحقيق، أو المحاكمة- قرار كفِّ يد الموظف لمدة (أو مدد) لا تتجاوز سنتين.
2- إذا كان الموظف مكفوف اليد لارتكابه مخالفة أو في حكم مكفوف اليد، أو الموقوف احتياطيًّا، وصدر بحقه قرار بالفصل بسببها؛ فتعد خدمته منتهية من تاريخ كفِّ يده أو توقيفه احتياطيًّا، أيهما أسبق.
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 regulates suspension of an employee from duty, which under Article 1 means temporarily stopping the employee from performing the tasks of his job.
1- Who issues the suspension decision and its duration:
- It is issued by the government body, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority or the competent court, each according to its jurisdiction.
- It is as required by the interest of the work, the investigation or the trial.
- Its duration may not exceed two years, whether issued for one period or for multiple periods.
2- Effect of dismissal on the date service ends: If the employee is suspended from duty for committing a violation, or is treated as suspended, or is held in pretrial detention, and a decision is then issued dismissing him because of that violation, his service is treated as ended from the date of his suspension or pretrial detention, whichever is earlier. That is, the end of service goes back to that date and not to the date the dismissal decision was issued. The article does not explain who is "treated as suspended".
It is followed by Article 18, which requires the arresting authority to notify the employing body of an employee held in pretrial detention, and requires the body to allow him to work on his release unless the interest of the work, investigation or trial requires suspending him.
Anyone against whom a suspension decision has been issued or who thinks it exceeded the prescribed period is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
An employee of a government body in Taif was referred for investigation of a financial violation, and his body issued a decision suspending him from duty in the interest of the investigation. The duration of his suspension may not exceed two years even if there are multiple decisions. If a decision is later issued dismissing him because of that violation, his service is treated as ended from the date of his suspension.
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 Employee Discipline Law
What is the maximum period for suspending an employee from duty?
The period of suspension may not exceed two years, whether the decision is issued for one period or for multiple periods.
Who may issue a decision suspending an employee from duty?
The government body, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority or the competent court, each according to its jurisdiction and as the interest of the work, investigation or trial requires.
From what date does the service of a suspended employee end if he is dismissed?
If a decision is issued dismissing him because of the violation, his service is treated as ended from the date of his suspension or pretrial detention, whichever is earlier.
More articles on Suspension from Duty and Precautionary Detention
- Article 18
The article requires the arresting authority to notify the employing body of an employee held in pretrial detention immediately, and requires the body to allow him to work on his release unless the interest requires suspending him.
1- على جهة الضبط إبلاغ الجهة الحكومية التي يعمل بها الموظف الموقوف احتياطيًّا لاتهامه بارتكاب جريمة، وذلك فور إيقافه من قبل جهة الضبط. 2- على الجهة الحكومية الت
- 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.