Article 104 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 104 من نظام العمل · الباب السادس: شروط العمل وظروفه
Article 104 makes Friday the weekly rest day with full pay of at least 24 consecutive hours, allows it to be replaced by another day under conditions, and bars compensating it with cash.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يوم الجمعة يوم الراحة الأسبوعية لجميع العمال.
ويجوز لصاحب العمل- بعد إبلاغ مكتب العمل المختص- أن يستبدل بهذا اليوم لبعض عماله أي يوم من أيام الأسبوع، وعليه أن يمكنهم من القيام بواجباتهم الدينية، ولا يجوز تعويض يوم الراحة الأسبوعية بمقابل نقدي.
2- يكون يوم الراحة الأسبوعية بأجر كامل، ولا يقل عن أربع وعشرين ساعة متتالية.
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 104 explained in plain English
Article 104 of the Labor Law regulates every worker's right to a weekly rest day, and sets four basic rules for it:
- The default is Friday: the weekly rest day for all workers is Friday, without the need for an agreement or request.
- Replacement is permitted under conditions: an employer may make the rest day for some of its workers another day of the week, but on two conditions: it must notify the competent labor office, and it must enable those workers to perform their religious duties. Note that the text permits replacement for "some" workers.
- No cash compensation: a worker may not work on their rest day in exchange for a sum of money instead of rest, even if they agree to it; the purpose of rest is to restore energy, not to increase income.
- Full pay and a set length: the rest day is fully paid and lasts not less than 24 consecutive hours, so it may not be divided into separate periods during the week.
This article fits together with those around it: Article 103 concerns daily rest periods (prayer and food) in work that must continue, which is different from weekly rest. Article 105 sets an express exception to Article 104, allowing, in places far from populated areas and in work requiring continuous operation, weekly rest days to be accumulated for a period not exceeding 8 weeks, provided the employer and the workers agree and the Ministry approves.
In practice, if a worker is asked to work on their rest day without being given a substitute day, or is deprived of pay for that day, or is prevented from performing their religious duties after the day has been replaced, that violates this article, and they can go to the competent labor office or consult a labor lawyer to learn the appropriate steps for their case.
Practical example
Khalid works at a restaurant in Riyadh that receives customers every day of the week, including Friday. The restaurant owner notified the competent labor office that he would make the weekly rest day for Khalid and his colleagues in the kitchen department Monday instead of Friday, and arranged the Friday work schedule so that they can perform Friday prayer. Khalid thus gets Monday each week as a full rest day with full pay for not less than 24 consecutive hours. If the owner offered him an extra sum to work on Monday without giving him another rest day, this arrangement would not be permitted under Article 104.
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 104 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can the weekly rest day be a day other than Friday?
Yes. Article 104 permits an employer to replace Friday with another day of the week for some of its workers, provided it notifies the competent labor office and enables the workers to perform their religious duties.
Can money be taken instead of the weekly rest day?
No. Article 104 expressly states that the weekly rest day may not be compensated with a cash payment; rest is a right that is not exchanged for money.
Is the weekly rest day paid, and how long is it?
Yes. The weekly rest day is with full pay, and it lasts not less than 24 consecutive hours.
Can weekly rest days be accumulated into one period?
This is permitted as an exception under Article 105 in places far from populated areas and in work requiring continuous operation, for a period not exceeding 8 weeks, provided the employer and the workers agree and the Ministry approves.
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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 ساع
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.