Article 21 of the Saudi Labor Inspection Implementing Regulations
المادة 21 من اللائحة التنفيذية لضبط أعمال تفتيش العمل وتنظيمها · الفصل الخامس: قواعد التفتيش وإجراءاته
Article 21 obliges labor inspectors to follow up establishments found violating the Labor Law and its regulations with successive visits, after giving them sufficient and reasonable time limits to remedy the violations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على مفتشي العمل متابعة المنشات - التي تثبت مخالفتها لأحكام نظام العمل واللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تطبيقاً له- بزيارات متتالية بعد منحها مهلاً كافية ومعقولة لتلافي المخالفات.
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
The inspector's role does not end when a violation is discovered; this article requires him to follow up:
- Its scope: establishments whose violation of the provisions of the Labor Law and the regulations and decisions issued to implement it is established.
- Its method: successive visits.
- Its timing: after giving the establishment sufficient and reasonable time limits to remedy the violations.
The text thus balances two things: giving the establishment a real opportunity to correct its position, and not leaving the violation without follow-up. It does not specify the length of the time limit in days, but describes it as "sufficient and reasonable", and its assessment varies according to the type of violation.
This article is linked to paragraph (c) of Article 12, which allows the inspector to give a written warning to remedy the violation within a certain period, and to Article 16, which requires an early return when a serious breach is discovered. Article 13 also mentions "re-inspection" among the types of special visits.
An employer who has been given a time limit and wants to assess what he needs to do during it can consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Practical example
A labor inspector at a restaurant in Riyadh discovers that some health requirements for workers are not being applied, so he gives the restaurant a reasonable time limit to correct the situation. After it ends, he returns for a follow-up visit to verify that the violations have been remedied.
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 21 of the Saudi Labor Inspection Implementing Regulations
Does the labor office give a time limit to correct a violation?
The article provides for following up violating establishments with successive visits after giving them sufficient and reasonable time limits to remedy the violations.
How long is the time limit to correct a violation?
The article does not specify a period in days, and describes the limits as sufficient and reasonable.
Does the labor inspector return after a violation is found?
Yes. He must follow up the violating establishment with successive visits.
More articles on Inspection Report and Violation Report
- Article 12
Article 12 lets a labor inspector take one of several measures against a violator, depending on the violation's importance and circumstances: advice, oral warning, written notice with a deadline, or a violation report.
لمفتشي العمل عند قيامهم بتفتيش العمل في أي منشأة صناعية أو تجارية وغيرها تنفيذاً لأحكام نظام العمل واللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تطبيقاً له، أن يتخذوا بحق مخالفي أ
- Article 19
Article 19 requires the labor inspector to prepare a report on each inspection of each establishment for his superior, stating the visit details, the identification of the establishment, the number of workers and a summary of the actions taken.
يعد مفتش العمل تقريراً بكل تفتيش يقوم به في كل منشأة يزورها يرفعه لرئيسه المباشر لدراسته وإجراء ما يلزم في شأنه ، ويجب أن يتضمن هذا التقرير المعلومات التالية: أ
- Article 22
Article 22 requires the violation report to be drawn up at the workplace, the employer to be asked the reasons for each violation and his statement recorded, and the report to be signed by the inspector and employer or his refusal noted.
في حالة ضبط مخالفة فيجب أن يحرر محضرها في مكان العمل إلا إذا حال دون ذلك مانع، وعلى مفتش العمل أن يسأل صاحب العمل - أو ممثله-عن أسباب ارتكاب كل مخالفة من المخال
- Article 23
Article 23 requires the Ministry to prepare forms for violation reports, inspection registers, notices and warnings with instructions for their use, and bars labor offices from using any forms other than the approved ones.
تضع الوزارة نماذج محاضر ضبط مخالفات وسجلات التفتيش والتنبيهات والإنذارات والنماذج الأخرى المتعلقة بتنفيذ أحكام هذه اللائحة وأحكام نظام العمل الخاصة بتفتيش العمل
- Article 24
Article 24 provides that the Regulations are published in the Official Gazette and take effect from the date of publication.
تنشر هذه اللائحة في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ نشرها.
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.