Article 2 of the Saudi Employee Discipline Law
المادة 2 من نظام الانضباط الوظيفي
The article explains that the Employee Discipline Law aims to protect the public job, ensure the regular functioning of the public service, and secure the employee's proper performance of his work.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يهدف النظام إلى حماية الوظيفة العامة، وضمان سير المرفق العام بانتظام، وحسن أداء الموظف لعمله.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article sets out the purpose for which the Employee Discipline Law was made, which is three interrelated aims:
- Protecting the public job: The public job, under Article 1, consists of civil tasks and powers performed by the public employee for a public service, in which he is subject to the superior authority in the administrative organization.
- Ensuring the regular functioning of the public service: that is, that the public services provided by government bodies continue without disruption.
- The employee's proper performance of his work.
This article does not itself impose a specific obligation or penalty, but it sets out the framework within which the rest of the Law's provisions are understood; the penalties and procedures in the Law are read in light of these aims.
It is followed by Article 3, which sets the scope of the Law: it applies to all employees except those who work under laws that regulate penalties with special rules, who are treated under those rules and within the limits of the provisions they contain.
It is useful for the employee to know that a disciplinary violation, as defined in Article 1, includes departing from duties, committing job prohibitions, or affecting the honor and dignity of the job, which is what the Law seeks to prevent in order to protect the public job.
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 2 of the Saudi Employee Discipline Law
What is the aim of the Employee Discipline Law?
The Law aims to protect the public job, ensure the regular functioning of the public service, and secure the employee's proper performance of his work.
Does Article 2 impose penalties on an employee?
No. It sets out only the aims of the Law; the penalties and procedures are regulated by other articles of the Law.
More articles on Scope of the Employee Discipline Law
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Employee Discipline Law, such as public employee, disciplinary violation, penalty, suspension from duty and closing an investigation.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها: النظام: نظام الانضباط الوظيفي. اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية للنظام. الوزير
- Article 3
The article provides that the Employee Discipline Law applies to all employees, except those whose laws regulate penalties with special rules, who are treated under those rules.
يسري النظام على جميع الموظفين عدا من يعملون وفقًا لأنظمة ينظم فيها الجزاء بقواعد خاصة؛ فيعاملون وفقًا لتلك القواعد، وفي حدود ما تتضمنه من أحكام.
- Article 23
The article tasks the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development with preparing the Regulations in coordination with the Authority and the Board of Grievances, and issuing them by its minister's decision within 90 days of publication of the Law, to take effect when the Law does.
تعد وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية -بالتنسيق مع الهيئة وديوان المظالم- اللائحة، وتصدر بقرار من وزير الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية خلال (تسعين)
- Article 24
The article repeals Articles 31 to 46 and Article 48 of the Employees Disciplinary Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/7 dated 1/2/1391 AH, and every provision that conflicts with the Law.
يلغي النظام المواد من (31) إلى (46) والمادة (48)، من نظام تأديب الموظفين، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 7) وتاريخ 1 / 2 / 1391ه، وكل ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
- Article 25
The article provides that the Employee Discipline Law takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (مائة وثمانين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.