Article 19 of the Saudi GCC Insurance Protection Extension Law
المادة 19 من النظام الموحد لمد الحماية التأمينية لمواطني دول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية العاملين في غير دولهم في أي دولة عضو في المجلس · الباب الخامس: أحكام ختامية
The article applies all the provisions of the home state's retirement or insurance law to the employee or worker on matters with no specific provision in the Law, to the extent they do not conflict with it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري على الموظف / العامل كافة الأحكام الواردة في قانون / نظام التقاعد المدني / التأمينات الاجتماعية في الدولة موطن الموظف / العامل ، وذلك فيما لم يرد بشأنه نص خاص في هذا النظام، وبما لا يتعارض مع أحكامه .
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 19 explained in plain English
This is a supplementary article that fills the gap on matters the Unified Law does not address.
The rule: all the provisions of the civil retirement or social insurance law of the home state apply to the employee or worker.
The two limits:
- On matters for which this Law has no specific provision: if the Unified Law regulates a matter, its specific text applies.
- To the extent they do not conflict with its provisions: if a provision of the home state's law conflicts with the Unified Law, the Unified Law prevails.
Order of authority:
- First: the specific provisions of the Unified Law.
- Second: the law of the home state, on matters the Law does not address and to the extent it does not conflict with it.
The idea is that the Unified Law cannot regulate every detail of retirement and insurance, so it leaves the rest to the law of each state, while ensuring that its own specific rules remain the governing ones.
In practical terms, anyone looking for the rule on an insurance question for a GCC national working in another state starts with the Unified Law, and if he finds no provision in it, turns to the law of the home state. Article 18 provides that entitlements are settled under the law of the home state, and Article 20 provides that no financial obligations arise for the workplace state's body.
To apply this to a specific case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in social insurance and retirement laws.
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 19 of the Saudi GCC Insurance Protection Extension Law
Which law applies to matters the Law Extending Insurance Protection does not regulate?
All the provisions of the civil retirement or social insurance law of the employee's home state.
What if the home state's law conflicts with the Unified Law?
The home state's provisions apply only to the extent they do not conflict with the provisions of the Law.
More articles on Pensions and Disability and Death Entitlements
- Article 16
The employer notifies the workplace state's body of an employee's disability, sickness or death; that body completes the medical reports and sends them to the home state's body for its committees, ahead of settling entitlements.
في حالة عجز أو مرض أو وفاة الموظف / العامل يلتزم صاحب العمل بإخطار جهاز التقاعد المدني / التأمينات الاجتماعية في الدولة مقر العمل بذلك، والتي يقع عليها عبء استك
- Article 17
The article applies the home state's retirement or insurance rules to the case of a missing employee or worker, with the missing status established under the procedures of the state of the workplace.
تطبق بشأن فقد الموظف / العامل الأحكام والضوابط المعمول بها في قانون / نظام التقاعد المدني / التأمينات الاجتماعية في الدولة موطن العامل، ويتم إثبات هذه الحالة وف
- Article 18
The article provides that the entitlements of the employee or worker, or of those entitled through him, are settled under the provisions in force in the retirement or insurance law of the home state.
تسوى مستحقات الموظف / العامل أو المستحقين عنه طبقا للأحكام السارية بهذا الشأن في قانون / نظام التقاعد المدني / التأمينات الاجتماعية في الدولة موطن الموظف / العا
- Article 21
The article provides that the Law does not affect any rights or benefits guaranteed by the laws of the state of the workplace to employees or workers, unless those laws provide otherwise.
لا يمس هذا النظام أية حقوق أو مزايا تكفلها القوانين / الأنظمة السارية في الدولة مقر العمل للموظفين / للعمال، ما لم تنص تلك القوانين / الأنظمة على خلاف ذلك .
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.