Article 139 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 139 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 139 relieves the employer of its obligations to treat, support and compensate an injured worker if it is proven the worker deliberately injured themselves, engaged in intentional misconduct, or refused treatment without legitimate reason.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يلزم صاحب العمل بما ورد في المواد الثالثة والثلاثين بعد المائة والسابعة والثلاثين بعد المائة والثامنة والثلاثين بعد المائة من هذا النظام إذا ثبت أي مما يأتي:
1 - أن العامل تعمد إصابة نفسه.
2 - أن الإصابة حدثت بسبب سوء سلوك مقصود من جانب العامل.
3 - أن العامل امتنع عن عرض نفسه على طبيب، أو امتنع عن قبول معالجة الطبيب المكلف بعلاجه من قبل صاحب العمل دون سبب مشروع.
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 139 explained in plain English
Article 139 of the Labor Law specifies the cases in which the employer's obligation toward a worker with a work injury lapses. The rule is that the employer is bound to three things: treating the worker and bearing all the costs (Article 133), paying financial assistance during the period of temporary disability (Article 137), and compensating the worker or those entitled through them for permanent disability or death (Article 138). But this article makes those obligations not due if any of the following is proven:
- That the worker deliberately injured themselves.
- That the injury occurred because of the worker's intentional misconduct.
- That the worker refused to present themselves to a doctor, or refused to accept treatment from the doctor the employer assigned to treat them, without legitimate reason.
The following can be noted about this article:
- The key word in it is "proven"; the employer's mere claim is not enough, and the incident must actually be established.
- The first and second cases require intent and deliberateness; an unintentional mistake or ordinary negligence by the worker does not fall within them and does not forfeit their rights.
- The third case is qualified by the phrase "without legitimate reason"; if the worker has an acceptable reason for refusing treatment or not seeing the doctor, it does not apply to them.
- The exemption is limited to what appears in Articles 133, 137 and 138 specifically, which define its scope.
The article thus balances protecting a worker who is injured during work with preventing exploitation of this protection by someone who deliberately causes their own injury or obstructs their treatment. If there is a dispute over whether any of these cases is proven, the worker or employer is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a technician at a factory in Dammam and suffered a cut to his hand while operating a machine. The company took him to the doctor assigned to treat its workers, but he refused to receive treatment and did not attend later appointments for no acceptable reason, and his condition worsened. Here the company may rely on Article 139 if it proves his refusal of treatment without legitimate reason, and it is then not bound to the costs of his treatment, the financial assistance or the compensation. By contrast, his colleague Khalid, who was injured on the same day because of an unintentional mistake during work and accepted treatment immediately, remains entitled to everything provided in Articles 133, 137 and 138.
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 139 of the Saudi Labor Law
When is an employer exempt from treating and compensating an injured worker?
Under Article 139, the employer is exempt if it is proven that the worker deliberately injured themselves, or that the injury resulted from their intentional misconduct, or that they refused to present themselves to a doctor or refused the treatment of the doctor assigned by the employer without legitimate reason.
Does a worker lose the right to compensation if they made an unintentional mistake at work?
No. The article requires deliberateness in self-injury or intent in misconduct. An unintentional mistake does not fall within the cases mentioned, and the employer's obligations in Articles 133, 137 and 138 remain.
Which employer obligations lapse under Article 139?
Its obligations in Article 133 (treatment and bearing its costs), Article 137 (financial assistance during temporary disability) and Article 138 (compensation for permanent disability or death) lapse.
Is it enough for an employer to claim the worker refused treatment?
A claim is not enough, as the article requires that it be "proven," and that the refusal of treatment or of presenting themselves to a doctor was without legitimate reason.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 133
Article 133 requires the employer to treat a worker with a work injury or occupational disease and bear all treatment costs, including hospital stay, tests, X-rays, prosthetic devices and travel.
إذا أصيب العامل بإصابة عمل، أو بمرض مهني، فإن صاحب العمل يلتزم بعلاجه، ويتحمل جميع النفقات اللازمة لذلك، بطريقة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة، بما فيها الإقامة في المستش
- Article 137Amended (1436 AH)
Article 137 gives an injured worker with temporary disability full pay for 60 days, then 75% throughout treatment, and treats the injury as total disability if treatment reaches a year or recovery is ruled out.
للمصاب - في حالة عجزه المؤقت عن العمل الناتج من إصابة عمل - الحق في معونة مالية تعادل أجره كاملاً لمدة ستين يوماً ثم يستحق مقابلاً ماليًّا يعادل (75%) من أجره ط
- Article 138
Article 138 sets work injury compensation: 3 years' wage with a minimum of SAR 54,000 for total permanent disability or death, and a percentage of that amount for partial permanent disability.
إذا نتج عن الإصابة عجز دائم كلي، أو أدت الإصابة إلى وفاة المصاب، فللمصاب أو المستحقين عنه الحق في تعويض يقدر بما يعادل أجره عن مدة ثلاث سنوات بحد أدنى قدره أربع
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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
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- Article 61Amended by M/44
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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
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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.