Article 169 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 169 من نظام العمل · الباب الحادي عشر: عقد العمل البحري
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يخضع جميع من يعمل على ظهر السفينة لسلطة ربانها وأوامره.
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 169 explained in plain English
Article 169 of the Labor Law sets a basic rule in regulating maritime work: authority on board a ship is single and centered on the master; everyone working aboard is subject to his authority and orders.
Who is covered by the provision?
- The text is general: "everyone who works on board the ship." It is not limited to seamen bound by a maritime work contract, but extends to everyone who performs work aboard regardless of title or the nature of the task.
- As for the meaning of "master," "ship" and "seaman," Article 168 refers their definition to the Commercial Maritime Law, so these terms are understood according to the definitions in it.
What follows in practice?
- The worker on the ship must carry out the master's orders relating to work, and the master has the final say in managing the affairs of the ship and those on it.
- This authority is exercised within the employment relationship regulated by the following articles of this Part; Article 170 requires that seamen's work contracts be recorded in the ship's registers or attached to them, and be drafted clearly stating the contract's duration or the voyage for which it was concluded.
What the article does not address: the text does not define the limits of the master's authority or the penalties for violating his orders, and does not explain how to complain about them; these matters are referred to the remaining provisions of the Labor Law and the Commercial Maritime Law and to regulations issued. If a seafaring worker has a dispute over an order given to him on board, it is appropriate for him to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases before taking any step.
Practical example
Khalid works as a maintenance technician aboard a cargo ship belonging to a company in Jeddah, under a maritime work contract recorded in the ship's registers under Article 170. During a voyage the ship's master asked him to temporarily move to help in another department because of a crew shortage. Under Article 169, Khalid is subject to the master's authority and orders while he is on board, because the text covers all those working aboard and not seamen alone, so he must comply with the order relating to work on board.
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 169 of the Saudi Labor Law
Does the master's authority apply to people other than seamen working on the ship?
Yes. The text of Article 169 covers "everyone who works on board the ship," without distinction between seamen and others working aboard.
Who is the master meant in Article 169?
Article 168 of the Labor Law refers the meaning of master, ship and seaman to the definitions in the Commercial Maritime Law.
Does Article 169 set a penalty for violating the master's orders?
No. The article is limited to establishing that workers are subject to the master's authority and orders, and contains no penalties or limits on that authority; the remaining provisions of the laws and regulations concerned are referred to.
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 168Amended by M/44
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.
يقصد بألفاظ وعبارات (السفينة، ومجهز السفينة، والربان، والبحار، وعقد العمل البحري) أينما وردت في هذا الباب المعاني المبينة حيالها في النظام البحري التجاري.
- 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.