Article 21 of the Saudi GCC Insurance Protection Extension Law
المادة 21 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 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 .
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 21 explained in plain English
This is a protective article that ensures the Unified Law does not become a reason for reducing the rights of the employee or worker.
The rule: this Law does not affect any rights or benefits guaranteed to employees or workers by the laws or systems in force in the state of the workplace.
The exception: if those laws themselves provide otherwise.
What does this mean? A GCC national's being subject to the retirement law of his home state under this Law does not mean he is deprived of the rights and benefits that the systems of the state in which he works grant to employees or workers. These rights remain in place, unless the systems of the state of the workplace themselves exclude such a case from them.
The article does not list these rights and benefits; they are identified by referring to the systems of the state of the workplace.
In practical terms, a GCC employee in another state benefits from two protections: the insurance protection regulated by this Law, and the other rights and benefits that the systems of the state of the workplace guarantee to employees or workers, unless those systems provide otherwise.
This article comes among the closing provisions, alongside Article 20, which negates any financial obligations on the workplace state's body because of applying the Law, and Article 22, which sets the penalties for violators.
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.
How we write and review contentLabour & Employment Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Labour & Employment Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 21 of the Saudi GCC Insurance Protection Extension Law
Does a GCC employee lose the rights guaranteed by the laws of the state where he works?
No. The Law does not affect any rights or benefits guaranteed by the laws in force in the state of the workplace, unless those laws provide otherwise.
Does the article list these rights?
No. They are identified by referring to the systems of the state of the workplace.
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 19
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.
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 خ
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.