Article 175 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 175 من نظام العمل · الباب الحادي عشر: عقد العمل البحري
If a sea voyage is shortened for any reason, voluntary or compulsory, the pay of a seaman contracted for a single voyage may not be reduced.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا اختصر السفر لأي سبب من الأسباب، سواء كان ذلك اختياريًّا أم قهريًّا، فلا يترتب على ذلك نقص أجر البحار المشغل بعقد عمل بحري، لمدة رحلة بحرية واحدة.
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 175 explained in plain English
Article 175 of the Labor Law protects the seaman who works under a maritime work contract fixed to a single sea voyage, meaning his pay is tied to the voyage itself and not to the number of days he spends on board the ship.
What the article provides: if the voyage ends earlier than its expected date or its route is shortened, this may not reduce the seaman's pay, and he is entitled to the agreed pay for the voyage in full.
The scope of protection is wide, since the text covers shortening the voyage "for any reason," whether it is:
- Voluntary: for example, the shipowner or the ship's master decides to end the voyage at a nearer port or change its destination for commercial or operational reasons.
- Compulsory: for example, the ship is forced to return or stop because of circumstances beyond anyone's control.
In both cases the seaman does not bear the result of a decision or circumstance to which he was not a party, as long as he is bound by a contract for a single voyage.
Relationship of the article to neighboring articles:
- Article 174 complements this protection by setting how the seaman's entitlements are paid in the official currency, with payment in foreign currency permitted if they fall due while the ship is outside territorial waters and the seaman accepts.
- Article 176 deals with canceling, delaying and prolonging the voyage for a seaman whose pay was fixed as a share of profits or of the ship's freight; such a seaman is not entitled to compensation if the voyage is canceled nor to an increase if it is prolonged, but if the delay or prolongation arose from the act of the shippers he is entitled to compensation from the shipowner.
What can the seaman do? If a deduction is made from his pay on the claim that the voyage ended early, he may claim the full pay based on this article. Because forms of maritime work contracts differ, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases to assess the particular contract.
Practical example
The seaman Salem contracted with a shipowner in Jeddah to work during a single sea voyage for an agreed lump-sum pay for the entire voyage. A few days after the ship set out, the shipowner decided to end the voyage at a nearer port for commercial reasons, so the ship returned much earlier than expected. The company tried to deduct part of Salem's pay on the ground that the actual working period was shorter. Under Article 175 this deduction is not permitted, and Salem is entitled to the agreed pay in full, because shortening the voyage, whether voluntary or compulsory, does not result in a reduction of the pay of a seaman contracted for a single voyage.
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 175 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can a shipowner deduct part of a seaman's pay if the voyage ends early?
No. Article 175 provides that shortening the voyage for any reason does not result in a reduction of the pay of a seaman contracted under a maritime work contract for a single voyage, so he is entitled to his agreed pay in full.
Does Article 175 apply if the voyage is shortened by a compulsory circumstance such as a breakdown or bad weather?
Yes. The text is express that the rule applies to shortening the voyage whether voluntary or compulsory, so the seaman's pay is unaffected in both cases.
Does Article 175 apply to a seaman who receives a share of profits?
Article 175 concerns a seaman employed under a contract for a single voyage and does not except one who receives a share of profits. Article 176 provides that a seaman whose pay was fixed as a share of profits or of the ship's freight is not entitled to compensation if the voyage is canceled nor to an increase if it is prolonged, and if the delay or prolongation arose from the act of the shippers he is entitled to compensation from the shipowner.
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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.