Article 134 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 134 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 134 refers the definition of a work injury to the Social Insurance Law, treats occupational diseases as work injuries, and takes the date of the first medical observation of the disease as the date of injury.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد الإصابة إصابة عمل وفق ما هو منصوص عليه في نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية، وتعد الأمراض المهنية في حكم إصابات العمل، كما يعد تاريخ أول مشاهدة طبية للمرض في حكم تاريخ الإصابة.
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 134 explained in plain English
Article 134 of the Labor Law determines when a worker's injury counts as a work injury. This matters because describing an injury this way is what gives rise to the employer's obligations in this Part, the first of which is the obligation to provide treatment and bear its costs under Article 133.
The article contains three basic rules:
- Reference to the Social Insurance Law: the Labor Law did not set an independent definition of a work injury, but referred to what is provided in the Social Insurance Law; an injury that counts as a work injury under that law counts as one when applying the Labor Law, so the concept is unified between the two laws.
- Occupational diseases are treated as work injuries: protection is not limited to sudden accidents, but also covers an occupational disease that afflicts the worker because of their work, which takes the ruling of a work injury as to rights and obligations.
- The date of injury in an occupational disease: because an occupational disease develops gradually and the moment of its occurrence cannot be determined, the article provides that the date of the first medical observation of the disease is treated as the date of injury, and it is the date relied on for the consequences of the injury.
This article complements Article 133, which requires the employer to treat a worker with a work injury or occupational disease and bear all the necessary costs of this, and Article 135, which treats a relapse or any complication arising from the injury as the original injury as regards assistance and treatment.
In practice, a worker who feels the symptoms of a disease they believe is connected with their work should promptly see a doctor and document this, because the date of the first medical observation is what will be adopted as the date of injury. As for determining whether a particular condition falls within work injuries or occupational diseases under the Social Insurance Law, it is a matter that may require consulting a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Practical example
Khalid has worked for years at a chemicals factory in Dammam, and began to feel shortness of breath that developed gradually. He saw a doctor on March 10, 2024, who diagnosed a respiratory disease connected with the nature of his work. Under Article 134, this occupational disease is treated as a work injury, and March 10, 2024, the date of the first medical observation, is treated as the date of injury. As a result, the employer is bound to treat him and bear his costs under Article 133, and if his condition later relapses, the relapse is treated like the original injury under Article 135.
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 contentA question about Article 134 of Labor Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Labour & 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
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 134 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is the definition of a work injury under the Saudi Labor Law?
The Labor Law did not set a specific definition of a work injury; Article 134 provides that an injury counts as a work injury according to what is provided in the Social Insurance Law.
Is an occupational disease a work injury?
Yes. Article 134 expressly provides that occupational diseases are treated as work injuries, so the same provisions apply to them, including the employer's obligation to provide treatment under Article 133.
How is the date of injury determined in the case of an occupational disease?
Under Article 134, the date of the first medical observation of the disease is treated as the date of injury, because an occupational disease appears gradually and the moment of its occurrence cannot be fixed as it can for an accident.
What if the worker's condition relapses after the injury or occupational disease?
Under Article 135, a relapse or any complication arising from the injury is treated as the original injury, and it is subject to what applies to it as regards assistance and treatment.
More articles on Safety and Work Injuries
- 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 29
Article 29 requires an employer to employ a worker injured at work in its establishment, whose abilities are reduced, in a suitable job at that job's wage, without affecting the worker's right to compensation for the injury.
إذا أصيب أي عامل إصابة عمل نتج عنها نقص في قدراته المعتادة لا يمنعه من أداء عمل آخر غير عمله السابق، فإن على صاحب العمل الذي وقعت إصابة العامل بسبب العمل لديه ت
- 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 61Amended by M/44
Article 61 imposes basic duties on the employer toward its workers: no forced labor or withholding of wages, respect, time to exercise rights, facilitating inspection, no discrimination, and housing and transport or a cash allowance.
بالإضافة إلى الواجبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام واللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تطبيقاً له، يجب على صاحب العمل ما يأتي: 1 - أن يمتنع عن تشغيل العامل سخرة، وألا يحت
- Article 63
Article 63 requires the employer and anyone with authority over workers to prevent any substance forbidden by Sharia from entering the workplace, and penalizes anyone found with it or using it.
على صاحب العمل أو وكيله أو أي شخص له سلطة على العمال، منع دخول أي مادة محرمة شرعًا إلى أماكن العمل، ويطبق بحق من وجدت لديه أو من تعاطاها العقوبات المقررة في هذا
- Article 65
Article 65 sets six basic duties of the worker: performing the work skillfully per lawful instructions, caring for the employer's tools, good conduct, helping in emergencies, undergoing medical examination, and keeping the establishment's secrets.
بالإضافة إلى الواجبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام واللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تطبيقًا له، يجب على العامل: 1 - أن ينجز العمل وفقًا لأصول المهنة ووفق تعليمات صاحب
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.