Article 154 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 154 من نظام العمل · الباب التاسع: تشغيل النساء
Article 154 gives a working woman, after she returns from maternity leave, a nursing break or breaks of no more than one hour a day, counted as actual working hours and without reduction in pay.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحق للمرأة العاملة عندما تعود إلى مزاولة عملها بعد إجازة الوضع أن تأخذ بقصد إرضاع مولودها فترة أو فترات للاستراحة لا تزيد في مجموعها على الساعة في اليوم الواحد، وذلك علاوة على فترات الراحة الممنوحة لجميع العمال، وتحسب هذه الفترة أو الفترات من ساعات العمل الفعلية، ولا يترتب عليها تخفيض الأجر.
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 154 explained in plain English
Article 154 of the Labor Law regulates a right specific to the working woman after maternity leave ends and she returns to work: the nursing period. This article is within Part Nine on the employment of women, complementing the protection set by Article 153 (medical care during pregnancy and childbirth) and Article 155 (prohibition of dismissing a worker during pregnancy or maternity leave).
What does the article provide?
- Who holds the right: the woman worker who has returned to work after maternity leave, for the purpose of nursing her newborn.
- Length of the period: one break or several breaks totaling no more than one hour in a single day.
- Independence from ordinary rest: the nursing period is given in addition to the rest periods set for all workers, so the employer may not count it as a substitute for the lunch break or prayer break, for example.
- Effect on pay: this period is counted as actual working hours, and no reduction in pay results from it.
What does this mean in practice?
- The employer must enable the worker to take this period, whether in one block or split through the day, as long as the total does not exceed one hour.
- This hour may not be deducted from the worker's pay, treated as absence or lateness, or required to be made up through overtime.
- The right is established by force of the Law, so it needs no provision in the employment contract, and agreement to the contrary is not permitted.
Note that the text of the article does not specify how long after childbirth this right continues, and does not explain the mechanism for deciding when in the workday the period falls. If a dispute arises about that, or the employer refuses to grant the period or deducts for it from pay, it is appropriate to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases to see the available options.
Practical example
Noura returned to her job at a company in Riyadh after maternity leave, working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Noura asked for a nursing period, so she agreed with the company's management that she would leave daily at 3 p.m. instead of 4. At the end of the month Noura noticed that the company had deducted from her pay for this daily hour as early departure. Under Article 154 this deduction is incorrect, because the nursing period is counted as actual working hours and results in no reduction in pay, and it is separate from the lunch break given to all employees and may not be counted as a substitute for it.
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 154 of the Saudi Labor Law
How long is the nursing period for a working woman under the Saudi Labor Law?
Article 154 gives the working woman, after she returns from maternity leave, a nursing break or breaks totaling no more than one hour a day, in addition to the rest periods set for all workers.
Can the nursing hour be deducted from pay?
No. Article 154 expressly provides that the nursing period is counted as actual working hours and results in no reduction in pay.
Can the nursing hour be split into more than one period during the day?
Yes. The text allows one break or several breaks, provided that their total does not exceed one hour in a single day.
Is the nursing period counted in place of the lunch break or daily rest?
No. Article 154 provides that the nursing period is given in addition to the rest periods given to all workers, so it is an additional right separate from ordinary breaks.
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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.