Article 148 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 148 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 148 requires the employer to provide daily transportation for workers between their housing or a gathering point and the workplace, if regular transport does not serve the site at times suiting working hours.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل صاحب عمل أن يوفر لعماله وسائل الانتقال من محل إقامتهم، أو من مركز تجمع معين إلى أماكن العمل، وإعادتهم يوميًّا إذا كانت هذه الأماكن لا تصل إليها وسائل المواصلات المنتظمة في مواعيد تتفق مع مواعيد العمل.
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 148 explained in plain English
Article 148 of the Labor Law requires the employer to provide transportation for its workers in a specific case: when the workplace is in a location that regular transport does not reach at times that match working hours. The rule is not a general one covering every establishment, but is tied to the difficulty of reaching the work site by the usual public means.
What does the text require of the employer?
- Providing a means of transport that takes workers from their place of residence, or from a specific gathering center, to the workplaces.
- Returning them daily after work ends.
When does the obligation apply? The obligation applies if regular transport does not reach the work site at all, or reaches it but at times that do not match working hours. If the site is served by regular transport at times suitable for the start and end of working hours, this obligation does not apply under this article.
Note that the text is phrased generally as "its workers," so it covers all workers, men and women, without distinction. The article also does not specify the type of transport or its specifications, and does not provide that the worker bears a charge for this transport, unlike Article 147, which referred to a charge for using housing and meals.
Relationship to Article 147: Article 148 complements what Article 147 provides, which requires the employer in places far from populated areas, and in mines, quarries and oil exploration centers, to provide housing, camps and meals. Both articles address workers' needs at hard-to-reach sites; however, Article 147 concerns remote sites and refers its details to a decision of the Minister, while Article 148 has a wider scope because it may apply to any work site, even inside cities, whenever the condition of regular transport not being available at suitable times is met.
If there is a dispute about whether this condition applies to a particular site, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
A contracting company in Riyadh is carrying out a project at an industrial site outside the built-up area of the city. Workers' shifts start at 6 a.m., while public buses do not reach the area until midday. Ahmed and his fellow workers have no way to get to the site at shift time. Article 148 applies here: the company must provide them with transportation, either directly from their housing or from a gathering point it sets for them, such as the entrance of the neighborhood where they live, and return them daily after work ends. If the project were inside a neighborhood served by regular buses that arrive before the shift starts and leave after it ends, the company would not be required to do so under this article.
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 148 of the Saudi Labor Law
Must every employer provide transportation for workers?
No. Article 148 limits the obligation to the case where regular transport does not reach the workplace at times that match working hours. If the site is served by regular transport suitable for working hours, this obligation does not apply.
Must the worker be picked up from his doorstep, or can a gathering point be set?
The text permits both options. The employer may provide transport from the workers' place of residence or from a specific gathering center, and return them daily.
Does Article 148 apply only to female workers?
No. The text is phrased generally as "its workers" and covers all workers, men and women, whenever the condition of regular transport not being available at suitable times is met.
What is the difference between Article 147 and Article 148 of the Labor Law?
Article 147 concerns work in places far from populated areas, mines, quarries and oil exploration centers and requires housing, camps and meals, referring its details to a decision of the Minister. Article 148 concerns transportation only, and applies to any work site not served by regular transport at times suiting working hours.
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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.