Article 168 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 168 من نظام العمل · الباب الحادي عشر: عقد العمل البحري
Article 168 provides that the terms ship, shipowner, master, seaman and maritime work contract in this Part have the meanings given in the Commercial Maritime Law.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يقصد بألفاظ وعبارات (السفينة، ومجهز السفينة، والربان، والبحار، وعقد العمل البحري) أينما وردت في هذا الباب المعاني المبينة حيالها في النظام البحري التجاري.
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 168 explained in plain English
Article 168 opens Part Eleven of the Labor Law on the maritime work contract, and it is a purely definitional article: it does not itself establish a right or an obligation, but explains how the basic terms that will recur in the articles of this Part are to be understood.
The article provides that 5 terms and expressions, wherever they appear in this Part, have the meanings given to them in the Commercial Maritime Law. These terms are:
- Ship
- Shipowner (operator of the ship)
- Master
- Seaman
- Maritime work contract
In practice this means the Labor Law does not set independent definitions of these terms, but refers to the definitions in the Commercial Maritime Law, so the meaning is unified between the two laws. Anyone who wants to know whether a person counts as a "seaman" or whether a particular floating facility counts as a "ship" subject to the provisions of this Part should refer to the definitions of the Commercial Maritime Law, not the Labor Law.
This article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, with the amendment in effect from 20/8/1446 AH, and in its current form it refers the definitions to the Commercial Maritime Law.
The importance of this article lies in its defining the scope of application of the whole Part: the maritime work provisions that follow, including Article 169, which subjects everyone working on board a ship to the master's authority and orders, apply to those who meet the description of seaman, master or shipowner in the sense used in the Commercial Maritime Law. To determine whether a particular case falls within this scope, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
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 168 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is meant by ship, seaman and master in the Labor Law?
The Labor Law does not set its own definitions of them. Article 168 provides that these terms have the meanings given to them in the Commercial Maritime Law wherever they appear in the Part on the maritime work contract.
Do the provisions of Part Eleven apply to everyone who works at sea?
They apply to those who meet the definitions of seaman, master, shipowner, ship and maritime work contract as given in the Commercial Maritime Law, as Article 168 refers.
Was Article 168 of the Labor Law amended?
Yes. It was amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, with the amendment in effect from 20/8/1446 AH, and in its current form it refers the definitions to the Commercial Maritime Law.
How does Article 168 relate to Article 169 of the Labor Law?
Article 168 defines the meaning of master, seaman and other terms, while Article 169 provides that everyone working on board a ship is subject to the master's authority and orders, so Article 169 is understood in light of the definitions referred to.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/44 — 8/2/1446 AH
In effect from 20/8/1446 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- صدر المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/44) وتاريخ 1446/2/8هـ، وذلك بالموافقة على تعديلات بعض مواد نظام العمل (ويعمل بها من تاريخ 1446/8/20هـ)
وعدلت هذه المادة لتكون بالنص الآتي: "يقصد بألفاظ وعبارات (السفينة، ومجهز السفينة، والربان، والبحار، وعقد العمل البحري) أينما وردت في هذا الباب المعاني المبينة حيالها في النظام البحري التجاري".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية- أينما وردت في هذا الباب- المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك:
السفينة: كل منشأة عائمة مسجلة في المملكة العربية السعودية ولا تقل حمولتها عن خمسمائة طن.
مجهز السفينة: كل شخص طبيعي، أو منشأة عامة أو خاصة، يجري لحسابه تجهيز السفينة.
الربان: كل بحار مؤهل لقيادة السفينة ويتحمل مسؤوليتها.
البحار: كل شخص يعمل على ظهر السفينة بعقد عمل بحري.
عقد العمل البحري: كل عقد تشغيل بأجر يبرم بين صاحب سفينة أو مجهز سفينة أو ممثل عن أي منهما وبين بحار للعمل على ظهرها، وتسري على هذا العقد أحكام هذا النظام فيما لا يتعارض مع أحكام هذا الباب والقرارات التي تصدر بمقتضاه.
More articles on Maritime Work and Mining
- Article 147
The article requires employers in remote places, mines, quarries and oil exploration centers to provide workers with housing, camps and meals, on conditions set by the Minister.
يلزم صاحب العمل الذي يؤدي عملًا في الأماكن البعيدة عن العمران، وفي المناجم والمحاجر ومراكز التنقيب عن النفط بتوفير المساكن والمخيمات والوجبات الغذائية للعمال. و
- Article 169
Article 169 provides that everyone who works on board a ship, whatever his capacity, is subject to the master's authority and must carry out his orders.
يخضع جميع من يعمل على ظهر السفينة لسلطة ربانها وأوامره.
- Article 170
Article 170 requires seamen's work contracts to be recorded in the ship's registers or attached to them, written clearly, and to state whether they are for a fixed term or a voyage, with its end specified.
يجب أن تسجل في سجلات السفينة أو أن تلحق بها جميع عقود عمل البحارة العاملين عليها، وأن تكون هذه العقود محررة بصيغة واضحة. ويجب أن ينص في العقد على ما إذا كان معق
- Article 171
Article 171 sets the mandatory particulars a maritime work contract must contain and requires it to be drawn up in three copies: for the shipowner, for the master on board the ship, and for the seaman.
يجب أن ينص في عقد العمل البحري على تاريخ إبرامه ومكانه، واسم المجهز، واسم البحار ولقبه وسنه وجنسيته وموطنه، ونوع العمل المكلف به، وكيفية أدائه، والشهادة التي تت
- Article 172
Article 172 requires work rules and conditions to be posted on board the ship and in the crew's section, and sets 9 mandatory elements they must contain, from wages to the end-of-service award.
يجب أن تعلن في السفينة وفي القسم المخصص للعاملين فيها قواعد العمل على ظهرها وشروطه، ويجب أن تتضمن القواعد والشروط ما يأتي : 1 - التزامات البحارة وواجباتهم وقواع
- Article 173
Article 173 sets three conditions for working as a seaman: completing 18 years of age, holding a certificate that allows work in maritime service, and medical fitness.
يشترط فيمن يعمل بحارًا: 1 - أن يكون قد أتم من العمر ثماني عشرة سنة. 2 - أن يكون حاصلًا على شهادة تتيح له العمل في الخدمة البحرية. 3 - أن يكون لائقًا طبيًّا.
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.