Article 209 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 209 من نظام العمل · الباب الثالث عشر: تفتيش العمل
Article 209 authorizes the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations that govern the conduct of labor inspection and organize how it is carried out.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة التنفيذية لضبط أعمال التفتيش وتنظيمها.
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 209 explained in plain English
Article 209 of the Labor Law is a short but important article, closing the provisions on labor inspection with a single rule: the Minister issues the Implementing Regulations that govern and organize inspection work. That is, the Law sets the general framework for inspection and leaves the practical details to a regulation issued by the Minister.
What does this mean in practice?
- The Law draws the broad lines: such as the body responsible for inspection, the existence of inspectors and their general powers.
- The Regulations govern the details: how inspection work is organized and controlled, and the procedures related to it. The article itself does not specify these details but refers them entirely to the regulation the Minister issues.
- The reference for everyone: the employer, the worker and the inspector are bound by what the Regulations provide on this matter, as they are the implementing instrument of this article.
It is useful for the reader to know that the article refers to the Regulations without stating their content; so if an establishment owner or a worker wants to know the procedural details of inspection visits, he should refer to the Implementing Regulations issued by the Minister and not to the text of this article alone.
This article was covered by the amendment issued by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, in effect from 20/8/1446 AH, and the text shown above is the text in force after this amendment.
If there is a dispute about a procedure taken by an inspector or about applying the Regulations to a particular establishment, the matter requires reviewing the Implementing Regulations and the relevant provisions, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
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 209 of the Saudi Labor Law
Which body issues the regulation organizing labor inspection in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 209 of the Labor Law, the Minister issues the Implementing Regulations to govern and organize inspection work.
Does Article 209 specify the procedures for an inspector's visit to an establishment?
No. The article mentions no detailed procedures, but refers governing and organizing inspection work to the Implementing Regulations issued by the Minister.
Was Article 209 of the Labor Law amended?
Yes. It was covered by the amendment issued by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, in effect from 20/8/1446 AH, and the text shown is the text in force.
Where can I find the details of organizing inspection of establishments?
According to Article 209, the details are in the Implementing Regulations the Minister issues for this purpose, and not in the text of the Law itself.
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 لتكون بالنص الآتي: "يصدر الوزير اللائحة التنفيذية لضبط أعمال التفتيش وتنظيمها".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يصدر مجلس الوزراء اللائحة التنفيذية لضبط أعمال التفتيش وتنظيمها المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب.
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 199Amended by M/44
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.
على أصحاب العمل ووكلائهم ومسؤوليهم في مكان العمل أن يقدموا للمفتشين والموظفين المكلفين بتفتيش العمل، التسهيلات اللازمة للقيام بأداء واجبهم، وأن يقدموا لهم ما يط
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.