Article 160 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 160 من نظام العمل · الباب التاسع: تشغيل النساء
Article 160 gives a woman worker whose husband has died paid waiting-period (iddah) leave: at least 4 months and 10 days for a Muslim woman, and 15 days for a non-Muslim woman.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
1 - للمرأة العاملة المسلمة التي يتوفى زوجها الحق في إجازة عدة بأجر كامل لمدة لا تقل عن أربعة أشهر وعشرة أيام من تاريخ الوفاة، ولها الحق في تمديد هذه الإجازة دون أجر إن كانت حاملاً - خلال هذه الفترة - حتى تضع حملها، ولا يجوز لها الاستفادة من باقي إجازة العدة الممنوحة لها – بموجب هذا النظام – بعد وضع حملها.
2 - للمرأة العاملة غير المسلمة التي يتوفى زوجها الحق في إجازة بأجر كامل لمدة خمسة عشر يوماً.
وفي جميع الأحوال لا يجوز للعاملة المتوفى عنها زوجها ممارسة أي عمل لدى الغير خلال هذه المدة.
ويحق لصاحب العمل أن يطلب الوثائق المؤيدة للحالات المشار إليها
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 160 explained in plain English
Article 160 of the Labor Law regulates the working woman's right to special leave on her husband's death, and distinguishes in its length between the Muslim and the non-Muslim woman worker.
First: the Muslim woman worker
- She is entitled to waiting-period leave (iddah) on full pay of not less than 4 months and 10 days, counted from the date of death.
- If she is pregnant during this period, she may extend the leave without pay until she gives birth.
- After giving birth she may not use the remainder of the waiting-period leave, because the waiting period ends with the birth of the child.
Second: the non-Muslim woman worker
- She is entitled to leave on full pay of 15 days.
Restrictions common to both cases
- In all cases the worker may not work for others during the leave period.
- The employer is entitled to request the documents that prove the situation (such as proof of death or pregnancy).
What does this mean in practice? This leave is a right established by the Law, so the employer may not refuse it, deduct it from other leave balances, or pay less than full pay during the paid period. The phrase "not less than" means the period stated for the Muslim woman worker is a minimum, and the employer may grant more.
This article in its current form was issued by Royal Decree No. M/46 dated 5/6/1436 AH.
This article is among the provisions on the employment of women, alongside Article 159, which requires an employer employing 50 or more women workers to prepare a place for the care of women workers' children under six years old if the number of such children is ten or more, while Article 161 moves to another subject, namely protecting juveniles from hazardous work.
When a dispute arises about calculating the period or the pay due, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
Noura works as an accountant at a company in Dammam, and her husband died at the beginning of Muharram. Under Article 160, Noura is entitled to waiting-period leave on her full pay for not less than 4 months and 10 days from the date of death, and the company may ask her for a death certificate. If it turns out she is pregnant, she may ask to extend the leave without pay until she gives birth, but after the birth she cannot claim what remains of the period. Throughout this period she may not work for another party.
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 160 of the Saudi Labor Law
How long is waiting-period leave for a working woman under the Saudi Labor Law?
A Muslim woman worker gets leave on full pay of not less than 4 months and 10 days from the date of death, and a non-Muslim woman worker gets leave on full pay of 15 days.
Is waiting-period leave paid?
Yes. The leave is granted on full pay in both cases. Extending the leave for a pregnant woman worker until she gives birth is without pay.
What if the woman worker is pregnant when her husband dies?
She has the right to extend waiting-period leave without pay until she gives birth, and she may not use the rest of the leave after the birth.
Can the employer ask for proof of the husband's death?
Yes. The article expressly provides for the employer's right to request the documents supporting the situation, and it prevents the worker from working for others during the leave period.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/46 — 5/6/1436 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/ 46) وتاريخ 5 / 6 / 1436 هـ ؛ لتكون بالنص الآتي :
"1 - للمرأة العاملة المسلمة التي يتوفى زوجها الحق في إجازة عدة بأجر كامل لمدة لا تقل عن أربعة أشهر وعشرة أيام من تاريخ الوفاة، ولها الحق في تمديد هذه الإجازة دون أجر إن كانت حاملاً - خلال هذه الفترة - حتى تضع حملها، ولا يجوز لها الاستفادة من باقي إجازة العدة الممنوحة لها – بموجب هذا النظام – بعد وضع حملها.
2 - للمرأة العاملة غير المسلمة التي يتوفى زوجها الحق في إجازة بأجر كامل لمدة خمسة عشر يوماً.
وفي جميع الأحوال لا يجوز للعاملة المتوفى عنها زوجها ممارسة أي عمل لدى الغير خلال هذه المدة.
ويحق لصاحب العمل أن يطلب الوثائق المؤيدة للحالات المشار إليها".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
للمرأة العاملة التي يتوفى زوجها الحق في إجازة بأجر كامل مدة لا تقل عن خمسة عشر يومًا من تاريخ الوفاة.
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لا يجوز لصاحب العمل إنهاء خدمة العامل بسبب المرض، قبل استنفاذه المدد المحددة للإجازة المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، وللعامل الحق في أن يطلب وصل إجازته السنوية بال
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لكل عامل الحق في إجازة بأجر كامل في الأعياد والمناسبات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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.