Article 185 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 185 من نظام العمل · الباب الثاني عشر: العمل في المناجم والمحاجر
Article 185 defines work in mines and quarries as covering prospecting, exploration, extraction, processing and concentration in the licensed area, with the construction and installations attached to them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالعمل في المناجم والمحاجر الآتي:
1 - العمليات الخاصة بالبحث أو الكشف عن المواد المعدنية، بما في ذلك الأحجار الكريمة، أو استخراجها، أو تصنيعها بالمنطقة الصادر عنها الترخيص، سواء أكانت المعادن صلبة أم سائلة.
2 - العمليات الخاصة باستخراج رواسب المواد المعدنية الموجودة على سطح الأرض أو في باطنها، أو تركيزها أو تصنيعها في منطقة الترخيص.
3 - ما يلحق بالعمليات المشار إليها في الفقرتين 1 ، 2 من هذه المادة من أعمال البناء وإقامة التركيبات والأجهزة.
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 185 explained in plain English
Article 185 opens Part Twelve of the Labor Law on work in mines and quarries, and it is a definitional article; it does not itself impose a direct obligation, but draws the boundaries of the work to which the special provisions in this Part apply, including Article 186, which prevents employing anyone who has not completed 18 years in a mine or quarry.
According to the text, the following counts as work in mines and quarries:
- Prospecting, exploration, extraction and processing: operations for prospecting for mineral materials or exploring for, extracting or processing them within the area for which the license was issued, including precious stones, whether the minerals are solid or liquid.
- Extraction, concentration and processing of deposits: operations for extracting deposits of mineral materials found on the surface of the earth or beneath it, or concentrating or processing them, in the licensed area.
- Attached work: construction work and erecting installations and equipment connected with the preceding operations.
Two important points are noted from the text:
- The criterion is the nature and place of the work, since paragraphs 1 and 2 tie the operations to the licensed area, and not the worker's job title or the establishment's main activity.
- The protection is not limited to those who work in digging or extraction alone, but extends, under paragraph 3, to those who perform construction, installations and equipment work connected with those operations.
In practice, this means that a worker or an employer who wants to know whether the provisions of this Part apply to the work relationship between them should first check that the work falls within one of the three paragraphs. If the situation is unclear, for example where construction work is far from the license site or not connected with mining operations, it is appropriate to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
A mining company in the Eastern Province contracted with Faisal, a construction worker, to erect facilities and install equipment inside its licensed site in preparation for beginning mineral extraction operations. Although Faisal does not work directly in digging or extraction, his work falls under paragraph 3 of Article 185 because it is construction and installation work attached to mining operations, so the provisions of Part Twelve apply to him, including the condition that he be at least 18 years old under Article 186.
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 185 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is meant by work in mines and quarries under the Saudi Labor Law?
Article 185 defined it as operations of prospecting for or exploring for mineral materials, or extracting or processing them in the licensed area, operations of extracting deposits of mineral materials from the surface of the earth or beneath it, or concentrating or processing them, and the construction, installations and equipment work attached to them.
Does work in mines include construction and installation work?
Yes. Paragraph 3 of Article 185 provides that construction work and erecting installations and equipment attached to the operations of prospecting, extraction and processing counts as work in mines and quarries.
Is extracting precious stones and liquid minerals considered work in mines?
Yes. Paragraph 1 expressly provides for including precious stones, and that the rule applies whether the minerals are solid or liquid.
Why does the definition in Article 185 matter to a worker?
The definition determines who is subject to the provisions of Part Twelve on mines and quarries, including Article 186, which prevents employing anyone who has not completed eighteen years of age in a mine or quarry.
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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.