Article 189 of the Saudi Labor Law

Article 189 of the Labor Law sets a rule that is both simple and strict: workplaces in mines and quarries and their annexes are closed areas, and entry is allowed only to specific categories. The evident aim is to protect lives; work in mines and quarries is full of hazards, and the presence of untrained or unknown people on the site endangers them and endangers the workers, and makes it hard to account for those present when an accident occurs.

According to the text, only three categories are allowed to enter:

1. Those working in the mine or quarry, that is, those who actually perform their work in these places.
2. Those assigned to inspection of the mine or quarry, who are entrusted with oversight and inspection.
3. Persons holding special permission from the competent authority, which is the only door for anyone else to enter, and on the face of the text the employer's permission alone is not enough; permission from the competent authority is required.

Note that the prohibition is not limited to the digging or extraction site itself, but extends to the annexes of the workplaces, so anyone outside these categories may not be present in them either.

This article complements what surrounds it in Part Twelve: Article 188 limits the hours a worker stays at the workplace, and Article 190 requires the employer to prepare a special register to record and account for workers before they enter the workplaces and when they leave them. This means the Law wants only those permitted to enter the mine or quarry, and for the workers in it to be recorded and accounted for.

In practice, the employer and supervisors must prevent anyone outside the three categories from entering, and anyone who wants to visit the site for any purpose must first obtain special permission from the competent authority. The article does not specify the details of the permitting authority or its procedures, and it is wise to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases when needed.