Article 101 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 101 من نظام العمل · الباب السادس: شروط العمل وظروفه
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 خلال مجموع ساعات العمل، وبحيث لا يبقى العامل في مكان العمل أكثر من اثنتي عشرة ساعة في اليوم الواحد.
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 101 explained in plain English
Article 101 of the Labor Law sets two basic rules to protect the worker from exhaustion within a single day, and requires the employer to organize working hours and rest periods in light of them:
- The limit on continuous work: a worker may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a period for rest, prayer and food. This period must not be less than half an hour at a time, and these periods are distributed over the total daily working hours according to their length.
- The limit on staying at the workplace: however working time and rest periods are distributed, a worker may not remain at the workplace for more than 12 hours in a single day, counted from entry to exit, including rest periods.
This article complements what Article 102 provides, which states that rest, prayer and meal periods are not counted as actual working hours, and that during them the worker is not under the employer's authority and may not be required to stay at the workplace. That is, the half-hour period required by Article 101 is free time for the worker, not paid working time during which the worker is asked to stand by or wait.
The article is also linked to Article 100, which permits the employer, with the Ministry's approval, in establishments whose nature requires work in rotation, to increase working hours beyond 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week provided the average over 3 weeks or less does not exceed these two limits. Even in that case, the 12-hour ceiling on staying at the workplace and the rule of 5 consecutive hours remain in force, because Article 101 does not exempt anyone from them.
This text was issued in its current form by Royal Decree No. M/46 dated 5/6/1436 AH. If your work schedule repeatedly violates these limits, you can document this and raise it with your employer, and consult a labor lawyer if needed.
Practical example
Ahmed works at a warehouse of a company in Riyadh on a schedule from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Under Article 101, he may not continue working from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. without a break, because that is 6 consecutive hours; the company must give him a rest period of at least half an hour before 5 hours have passed since he started work, for example from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. This period is not counted as part of his actual working hours under Article 102, and he is not required to spend it inside the warehouse. On inventory day, if he is asked to come in from 7 a.m., he may not stay at the workplace after 7 p.m., even if the day included long rest periods, because the total would exceed 12 hours.
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 101 of the Saudi Labor Law
How many hours can a worker work continuously without a break in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 101 of the Labor Law, a worker may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a period for rest, prayer and food, and this period must not be less than half an hour at a time.
Is the rest period counted as working hours?
No. Article 102 provides that rest, prayer and meal periods are not part of actual working hours, and during them the worker is not under the employer's authority and may not be required to stay at the workplace.
What is the maximum time a worker may stay at the workplace per day?
A worker may not stay at the workplace for more than 12 hours in a single day, and this limit covers the total time spent at the workplace, including rest periods.
Does the 12-hour limit apply to establishments that work in shifts?
Article 100 permits, with the Ministry's approval, an increase in working hours in establishments whose nature requires rotating work within an average not exceeding 8 hours a day or 48 a week over 3 weeks or less, but Article 101 does not exempt these establishments from the rule of 5 consecutive hours or from the 12-hour ceiling on staying at the workplace each day.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/46 — 5/6/1436 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/ 46) وتاريخ 5 / 6 / 1436 هـ ؛ لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"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 خلال مجموع ساعات العمل، وبحيث لا يبقى العامل في مكان العمل أكثر من اثنتي عشرة ساعة في اليوم الواحد".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تنظم ساعات العمل وفترات الراحة خلال اليوم، بحيث لا يعمل أي عامل أكثر من خمس ساعات متتالية دون فترة للراحة والصلاة والطعام لا تقل عن نصف ساعة في المرة الواحدة خلال مجموع ساعات العمل، وبحيث لا يبقى العامل في مكان العمل أكثر من إحدى عشرة ساعة في اليوم الواحد.
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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.