Article 199 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 199 من نظام العمل · الباب الثالث عشر: تفتيش العمل
Article 199 requires employers and their agents and officials to facilitate labor inspectors' work, provide the data requested, appear before them, and send a representative on request.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
على أصحاب العمل ووكلائهم ومسؤوليهم في مكان العمل أن يقدموا للمفتشين والموظفين المكلفين بتفتيش العمل، التسهيلات اللازمة للقيام بأداء واجبهم، وأن يقدموا لهم ما يطلبونه من بيانات تتعلق بطبيعة عملهم، وأن يستجيبوا لطلبات المثول أمامهم، وأن يوفدوا مندوبًا عنهم، إذا ما طلب منهم ذلك.
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 199 explained in plain English
Article 199 of the Labor Law sets out the employer's duties toward the labor inspection body. While Article 198 gives inspectors the right to enter the establishment at any time during its working hours without prior notice, question the employer and workers, inspect books and records, and take samples of materials, Article 199 comes to impose on the other party the corresponding obligation of cooperation.
Whom does the text address? The obligation is not limited to the employer himself, but also covers his agents and officials at the workplace, that is, the managers, supervisors and others who represent the establishment during the inspection visit.
What is required of them? The text sets four duties:
- Providing the necessary facilities to inspectors and the employees assigned to labor inspection so that they can perform their duty.
- Providing the data requested about the nature of the establishment's work.
- Responding to requests to appear before the inspectors.
- Sending a representative of the establishment if they are asked to.
This text is read with Article 200, which requires the inspector to notify the employer or his representative of his presence, unless he sees that the nature of the task requires otherwise; the cooperation required in Article 199 does not depend on prior notice, but begins as soon as the inspector arrives by virtue of the powers set for him in Article 198.
The text of the article in force was issued by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, and has been in effect since 20/8/1446 AH.
In practice this means the establishment is bound not to obstruct inspection in any way, whether by preventing entry, withholding records or ignoring inspectors' summonses. The text of the article does not itself specify the penalties for violation, so anyone facing a procedure as a result is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
A labor inspector visited a factory in Dammam during working hours without prior notice, informed the human resources manager of his presence and asked to see the wage records and working hours data. Under Article 199, the manager, as an official at the workplace, must enable the inspector to inspect and provide him with the data requested. A few days later the labor office asked the establishment to send a representative to complete inquiries, and the company sent a representative in response to this request, as the article requires.
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 199 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can an employer refuse to give records to a labor inspector?
No. Article 199 requires the employer and his agents and officials to provide the data inspectors request about the nature of their work, and Article 198 gives inspectors the right to inspect books and records and obtain copies of them.
Who is bound to cooperate with a labor inspector inside the establishment?
The obligation covers employers and their agents and officials at the workplace, so it is not limited to the owner alone but extends to whoever represents or manages the establishment.
Must the employer appear in person when summoned by the inspection?
Article 199 requires responding to requests to appear before inspectors, and also requires sending a representative of the establishment if it is asked to.
Is prior notice to the employer required before inspection?
According to Article 198, the inspector may enter the establishment at any time during its working hours without prior notice, and Article 200 requires him to notify the employer or his representative of his presence unless the task requires otherwise.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/44 — 8/2/1446 AH
In effect from 20/8/1446 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- صدر المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/44) وتاريخ 1446/2/8هـ، وذلك بالموافقة على تعديلات بعض مواد نظام العمل (ويعمل بها من تاريخ 1446/8/20هـ)
وعدلت هذه المادة وذلك بإضافة عبارة "ومسؤوليهم في مكان العمل" بعد كلمة "وكلائهم".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
على أصحاب العمل ووكلائهم أن يقدموا للمفتشين والموظفين المكلفين بتفتيش العمل، التسهيلات اللازمة للقيام بأداء واجبهم، وأن يقدموا لهم ما يطلبونه من بيانات تتعلق بطبيعة عملهم، وأن يستجيبوا لطلبات المثول أمامهم، وأن يوفدوا مندوبًا عنهم، إذا ما طلب منهم ذلك.
More articles on Labor Inspection
- Article 39Amended by M/44
Article 39 prevents a worker from working for anyone other than their employer or on their own account, and prevents an employer from employing another's worker, except by following the statutory rules and procedures, and regulates inspection and referral between the two ministries.
لايجوز -بغير اتباع القواعد والإجراءات النظامية المقررة- أن يترك صاحب العمل عامله يعمل لدى الغير أو يعمل لحسابه الخاص، ولايجوز للعامل أن يعمل لدى صاحب عمل آخر أو
- Article 190
The article requires the employer in mines and quarries to prepare a special register to record and account for workers before they enter the workplaces and when they leave them.
على صاحب العمل أن يعد سجلًّا خاصًّا لقيد العمال وحصرهم قبل دخولهم إلى أماكن العمل وعند خروجهم منها.
- Article 194Amended (1436 AH)
Article 194 assigns labor inspection to inspectors from the Ministry's employees or other Saudis specified by the Minister or his delegate, who hold the powers provided in the Law.
يتولى تفتيش العمل مفتشون من موظفي الوزارة، أو من غيرهم من السعوديين، يحددهم الوزير أو من يفوضه، وتكون لهم الصلاحيات والاختصاصات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام.
- Article 196Amended by M/44
Article 196 sets the six competences of labor inspectors: monitoring implementation of the Law, guiding employers and workers, reporting deficiencies, recording violations, verifying referred violations, and proposing fines.
يختص مفتشو العمل بما يأتي: 1- مراقبة تنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام واللائحة والقرارات الصادرة تنفيذاً له. 2- تزويد أصحاب العمل والعمال بالمعلومات والإرشادات الفنية الت
- Article 198Amended by M/44
Article 198 gives labor inspectors the right to enter any establishment covered by the Law during its working hours without notice, carry out examinations and investigations, question the employer and workers, inspect records, and take samples of harmful materials.
يحق لمفتشي العمل : 1- دخول أي منشأة خاضعة لأحكام نظام العمل في أي وقت من أوقات عمل المنشأة دون إشعار سابق. 2 - القيام بأي فحص أو تحقيق لازم للتحقق من سلامة تنفي
- Article 200
Article 200 requires the labor inspector to notify the employer or his representative of his presence during inspection, unless he considers that the nature of the task requires not notifying.
على من يقوم بالتفتيش أن يبلغ بحضوره صاحب العمل أو ممثله، وذلك ما لم ير أن المهمة التي يقوم من أجلها بالتفتيش تقتضي غير ذلك.
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.