Article 180 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 180 من نظام العمل · الباب الحادي عشر: عقد العمل البحري
Every seaman who contributed to assisting or salvaging another ship has a share in the reward his ship earns, however his pay is calculated.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لكل بحار أسهم في مساعدة سفينة أخرى أو إنقاذها نصيب في المكافأة التي تستحقها السفينة التي يعمل فيها، أيًّا كان نوع أجرة العمل الذي يؤديه.
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 180 explained in plain English
Article 180 of the Labor Law establishes a financial right specific to seamen: if the ship a seaman works on takes part in assisting or salvaging another ship, and the ship becomes entitled to a reward for that, every seaman who contributed to this assistance or salvage has a share in that reward.
Who benefits from this right?
- Every seaman working on board the ship that provided the assistance or salvage.
- On condition that he actually contributed to the assistance or salvage operation, since contribution is the basis of entitlement.
What does "whatever the type of his pay" mean? It means the way a seaman's pay is calculated does not affect his entitlement to a share of the reward; whether his pay is monthly, calculated by the voyage, or a share of profits, which are the types of pay Article 181 of the Law itself refers to, his right to the reward remains, and the employer may not invoke the type of pay to deprive him of it.
What the article does not specify: the text does not specify the amount of each seaman's share, or how the reward is distributed among the crew or between them and the ship's owner, and does not explain how the reward is assessed in the first place. When there is a dispute over the amount or distribution, it is therefore advisable to refer to the maritime work contract and consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
The article's place in the Part: Article 180 is within Part Eleven on the maritime work contract, after Article 179, which sets a maximum on working hours on board the ship on the high seas, and before Article 181, which regulates the rights of the heirs of a seaman who dies during the voyage; all of these provisions aim to protect the seaman in his special working conditions.
What can the seaman do? If he contributed to rescuing or assisting another ship, and his ship became entitled to a reward for that, and he did not receive his share of it, he may claim it based on this article, proving his actual contribution to the operation.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a seaman on a cargo ship belonging to a company in Jeddah, and his pay is calculated as a share of profits rather than a monthly wage. During one voyage the ship received a distress call from another ship that had broken down on the high seas, and Ahmed took part with the rest of the crew in towing it to safety. Later his ship became entitled to a reward for this rescue. Under Article 180 of the Labor Law, Ahmed has a share of this reward, as he actually contributed to the rescue, and the company may not deprive him of it on the ground that his pay is a share of profits and not a fixed wage.
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 180 of the Saudi Labor Law
Is a seaman entitled to a share of a salvage reward if his pay is a share of profits?
Yes. Article 180 expressly provides that the seaman is entitled to his share of the reward whatever the type of pay for the work he performs, with no difference between monthly pay, pay by the voyage or a share of profits.
Do all seamen automatically get a share of the reward?
The article gives the share to every seaman who contributed to assisting or salvaging the other ship, so actual contribution to the operation is the condition of entitlement according to the text.
How much is a seaman's share of a ship's salvage reward?
Article 180 does not specify the amount of the share or how the reward is distributed among the seamen or between them and the ship's owner; reference is therefore made to the maritime work contract, and consulting a specialized lawyer is advisable in a dispute.
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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.