Article 100 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 100 من نظام العمل · الباب السادس: شروط العمل وظروفه
Article 100 allows an employer, with the Ministry's approval, to exceed 8 hours a day or 48 a week in establishments that work in rotation, provided the average over 3 weeks or less stays within these limits.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لصاحب العمل- بموافقة الوزارة- في المنشآت التي تقتضي طبيعة العمل فيها أداء العمل بالتناوب زيادة ساعات العمل على ثماني ساعات عمل في اليوم أو ثمان وأربعين ساعة في الأسبوع، بشرط ألا يزيد متوسط ساعات العمل عند احتسابه لمدة ثلاثة أسابيع أو أقل على ثماني ساعات يوميًّا أو ثمان وأربعين ساعة أسبوعيًّا.
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 100 explained in plain English
Article 100 of the Labor Law deals with a special case in the regulation of working hours: establishments in which the nature of the work requires work to be performed in rotation (a shift system), where it may be difficult to adhere to a fixed daily or weekly limit on every single day or week.
The rule the article sets is to allow flexibility in distributing hours, not an increase in their total. A worker may work more than 8 hours on some days, or more than 48 hours in some weeks, provided this is offset by fewer hours on other days or weeks within the same period.
To apply this article, the following conditions must all be met:
- The Ministry's prior approval of this arrangement; the employer's decision alone is not enough.
- The establishment must be one in which the nature of the work requires work in rotation.
- The average working hours, when calculated over 3 weeks or less, must not exceed 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week.
This means the calculation period may not exceed 3 weeks; an employer may not balance the excess hours over a month or more.
This article differs from Article 99, which allows the daily limit to be raised to 9 hours for certain categories or industries specified by the Minister by decision; Article 100 does not raise the limit itself but permits an unequal distribution of hours provided the average stays within the limits. The provisions of Article 101 also remain applicable, so a worker may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a rest of not less than half an hour, and may not remain at the workplace for more than 12 hours in a single day.
If a rotation system is applied without the Ministry's approval, or the average exceeds the stated limits, the worker may refer to the competent authority or consult a labor lawyer to assess their position.
Practical example
A company in Jubail operates on a rotating shift system and has obtained the Ministry's approval to apply Article 100. In the first week, Ahmed works 54 hours, at 9 hours a day for six days; in the second week, 48 hours; and in the third week, only 42 hours. When the average over the three weeks is calculated, it is 48 hours a week, which is within the limit the article requires, with the company obliged to ensure that Ahmed does not stay at the work site more than 12 hours on any day and to give him the rest breaks set out in Article 101.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 100 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can an employer apply a shift system with extra hours without the Ministry's approval?
No. Article 100 expressly requires the Ministry's approval to increase working hours beyond 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week in establishments that work in rotation.
What is the longest period over which average working hours are calculated under Article 100?
3 weeks or less, and the average over that period must not exceed 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week.
Does Article 100 mean the worker works more hours in total?
No. The article only allows hours to be distributed unequally between days or weeks, with the average remaining within the limits of 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week.
What is the difference between Article 99 and Article 100 of the Labor Law?
Article 99 allows the daily limit to be raised to 9 hours for categories and industries specified by the Minister by decision, whereas Article 100 allows flexibility in distributing hours in establishments that work in rotation provided the average does not exceed the usual limits.
More articles on Working Hours and Overtime
- Article 6
Article 6 sets the provisions that apply to the casual, seasonal and temporary worker: duties, discipline, working hours, rest, overtime, official holidays, safety, work injuries and what the Minister decides.
تسري على العامل العرضي والموسمي والمؤقت الأحكام الخاصة بالواجبات وقواعد التأديب، والحد الأقصى لساعات العمل، وفترات الراحة اليومية والراحة الأسبوعية، والتشغيل ال
- Article 17
Article 17 requires the employer to keep at the workplace the records and files the Regulations specify, and to post a visible schedule of working hours, rest periods and shifts.
على صاحب العمل أن يحتفظ في مكان العمل بالسجلات والكشوف والملفات التي تحدد ماهيتها، والبيانات التي يجب أن تتضمنها اللائحة. وعليه أن يضع في مكان ظاهر بموقع العمل
- Article 49
Article 49 applies the Labor Law provisions on leave, holidays, working hours, rest periods, occupational safety and work injuries to the trainee and the person undergoing qualification.
تسري على عقد التأهيل والتدريب الأحكام الواردة في هذا النظام، الخاصة بالإجازات السنوية والعطلات الرسمية، والحد الأقصى لساعات العمل، وفترات الراحة اليومية والراحة
- Article 98
Article 98 sets the maximum actual working hours at 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week, reduced for Muslims during Ramadan to 6 hours a day or 36 a week.
لا يجوز تشغيل العامل تشغيلًا فعليًّا أكثر من ثماني ساعات في اليوم الواحد، إذا اعتمد صاحب العمل المعيار اليومي، أو أكثر من ثمان وأربعين ساعة في الأسبوع، إذا اعتم
- Article 99
Article 99 allows the Minister to raise daily working hours to 9 for certain categories or non-continuous work, or lower them to 7 in dangerous or harmful work.
يجوز زيادة ساعات العمل المنصوص عليها في المادة الثامنة والتسعين من هذا النظام إلى تسع ساعات في اليوم الواحد لبعض فئات العمال، أو في بعض الصناعات والأعمال التي ل
- Article 101Amended (1436 AH)
Article 101 requires working days to be organized so that a worker does not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a rest of at least half an hour, or stay at the workplace more than 12 hours a day.
تنظم ساعات العمل وفترات الراحة خلال اليوم، بحيث لا يعمل العامل أكثر من خمس ساعات متتالية دون فترة للراحة والصلاة والطعام لا تقل عن نصف ساعة في المرة الواحدة خلا
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.