Article 144 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 144 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 144 requires the employer to provide its workers with preventive and curative health care at the levels set by the Minister, with regard to what the Cooperative Health Insurance Law provides.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على صاحب العمل أن يوفر لعماله العناية الصحية الوقائية والعلاجية طبقاً للمستويات التي يقررها الوزير، مع مراعاة ما يوفره نظام الضمان الصحي التعاوني.
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 144 explained in plain English
Article 144 of the Labor Law places a general obligation on the employer toward its workers: to provide them with health care in both its forms:
- Preventive care: that is, what aims to protect the worker from illness before it occurs.
- Curative care: that is, treating the worker if he falls ill or needs medical care.
The article does not itself set the extent or details of this care, but refers this to the levels set by the Minister. The standard by which the employer's compliance is measured is therefore what the Minister issues on the matter, and the employer may not provide less than it.
The article also links this obligation to the Cooperative Health Insurance Law, stating that what that law provides is to be taken into account. This means the employer's obligation to provide health care is read alongside the coverage provided by cooperative health insurance, although the article does not explain the details or limits of this coordination.
Where the article sits among neighboring articles:
- Article 144 comes after Article 143, which requires the employer to conduct a comprehensive medical examination at least once a year for workers exposed to the possibility of contracting an occupational disease, and to record its result in its records and the workers' files. Article 143 is a specific, defined obligation, while Article 144 is a general obligation covering all workers.
- Article 145 moves to another subject, namely the permissibility of establishing a savings fund with the Minister's approval, provided that workers' contribution to it is voluntary.
What does this mean in practice? A worker who does not receive health care from the employer at the levels set for him may demand it, but determining whether what was provided is sufficient in a particular case requires referring to what the Minister has decided, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases if there is a dispute about it.
Practical example
Ahmed works for a contracting company in Riyadh. While at work he felt unwell, which required seeing a doctor and getting medication. Under Article 144 of the Labor Law, the company must provide him with curative health care at the levels set by the Minister, with regard to what the Cooperative Health Insurance Law provides. At the same time, if Ahmed works at a site that exposes him to the possibility of contracting an occupational disease, the company is also required under Article 143 to have him undergo a comprehensive medical examination at least once a year and to document its result in his file.
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 144 of the Saudi Labor Law
Is the employer required to provide medical treatment to the worker?
Yes. Article 144 requires the employer to provide its workers with preventive and curative health care, in accordance with the levels set by the Minister.
Who determines the level of health care the employer must provide?
Article 144 does not set the level itself. It provides that health care is provided according to the levels set by the Minister.
How does Article 144 relate to the Cooperative Health Insurance Law?
The article provides that the employer's obligation to provide health care is subject to regard for what the Cooperative Health Insurance Law provides, without explaining the details of this coordination.
What is the difference between Article 143 and Article 144 of the Labor Law?
Article 143 requires the employer to conduct a comprehensive medical examination at least once a year for workers exposed to the possibility of contracting occupational diseases, while Article 144 imposes a general obligation to provide preventive and curative health care to all workers.
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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.