Article 179 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 179 من نظام العمل · الباب الحادي عشر: عقد العمل البحري
Article 179 caps a seaman's working hours on board a ship on the high seas at 14 hours in any 24 hours and 72 hours in any 7 days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تزيد ساعات العمل على ظهر السفينة أثناء وجودها في عرض البحر على أربع عشرة ساعة في مدة أربع وعشرين ساعة، ولا على اثنتين وسبعين ساعة في مدة سبعة أيام.
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 179 explained in plain English
Article 179 of the Labor Law sets a maximum for the working hours a seaman may perform on board a ship while it is on the high seas, within the provisions of Part Eleven on the maritime work contract. The rule is a double one:
- Daily cap: working hours may not exceed 14 hours in any period of 24 hours.
- Weekly cap: working hours may not exceed 72 hours in any period of 7 days.
Both limits must be observed together; it is not enough for the seaman to work fewer than 14 hours a day if his total hours in the week exceed 72, and the reverse is also true.
Whom does this article protect? The seaman who works on a ship under a maritime work contract, and it binds the employer (the shipowner or his representative) not to employ him beyond these limits while at sea. The Law chose a ceiling higher than the usual limits for work on land, taking into account the nature of work at sea, where the seaman lives on board the ship and cannot leave the work site.
Scope of application: the text of the article is tied to the ship being on the high seas, and does not expressly address working hours while the ship is docked in port.
Relationship to neighboring articles: Article 178 refers to a regulation organizing the maritime work contract, issued by the Minister in coordination with the Transport General Authority, covering provisions on rest and leave, sleeping and living conditions on the ship, the inspection mechanism, and violations and penalties; the details of organizing rest periods and handling violations are therefore left to that regulation. Article 180 gives the seaman a share in the reward for salvaging other ships, whatever the type of his pay.
If a seaman considers that he is being assigned hours beyond these limits, he should document his actual working hours, refer to his contract and the regulation organizing the maritime work contract, and consult a labor lawyer when needed.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a seaman on a cargo ship belonging to a company in Jeddah. During a week-long voyage on the high seas, he was asked to work 13 hours a day for 6 consecutive days because of a crew shortage. Although his daily hours did not exceed the 14-hour cap, his total hours over 7 days reached 78 hours, which exceeds the 72-hour limit set by Article 179, so employing him this way violates the Law even if the company complied with the daily limit.
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 179 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is the maximum daily working hours for a seaman under the Saudi Labor Law?
Under Article 179, working hours on board the ship while it is on the high seas may not exceed 14 hours in any period of 24 hours.
Is there a weekly limit on maritime working hours?
Yes. Article 179 provides that working hours may not exceed 72 hours in any period of 7 days, and this limit must be observed in addition to the daily limit of 14 hours.
Does Article 179 apply when the ship is docked in port?
The text of the article speaks of working hours while the ship is on the high seas, and does not expressly address the case where the ship is in port.
Where are rest periods and leave for seamen organized?
Article 178 refers to the regulation organizing the maritime work contract, issued by the Minister in coordination with the Transport General Authority, which covers provisions on rest, leave, and living and sleeping conditions on board the ship.
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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.