Article 23 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 23 من نظام العمل · الباب الثاني: تنظيم عمليات التوظيف
Article 23 gives every citizen of working age who is able and willing to work the right to ask for their name to be registered with the employment channels, providing basic personal details.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
لكل مواطن في سن العمل قادر على العمل وراغب فيه أن يطلب قيد اسمه في قنوات التوظيف، مع بيان تاريخ مولده ومؤهلاته وأعماله السابقة ورغباته وعنوانه.
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 23 explained in plain English
Article 23 of the Labor Law establishes a right for the citizen to register as a job seeker with the employment channels provided by the Ministry, the same channels referred to in Article 22, whose services are provided free of charge.
Who benefits from this article? Every citizen who meets 3 conditions together:
- They are of working age.
- They are able to work.
- They are genuinely willing to work.
What details are required when asking to be registered? The article specifies five items that the job seeker provides:
- Date of birth.
- Academic or professional qualifications.
- Previous jobs held.
- Preferences, that is, the type of work being sought.
- Address.
What is the benefit of registration? According to Article 22, the employment channels register job seekers, collect data on vacant jobs from employers, match job seekers' applications with these vacancies according to their qualifications, and give advice and assistance on vocational qualification and training. The accuracy of the details a citizen provides when registering therefore helps in nominating them for suitable jobs.
Important notes:
- Registration is a right, not an obligation: the article says the citizen "may ask" to be registered, and does not require them to do so.
- According to the wording of the article, the right is given specifically to the citizen.
- The procedures for registration, the rules of operation of the employment channels, and the forms of records and papers used are set by the Regulations under Article 24, and this article does not detail them.
The article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH by replacing the word "unit" and "units" with "channels", and the text now in force applies from 20/8/1446 AH.
Practical example
Fahad, a Saudi citizen of working age, has finished his studies in accounting, previously worked for a year at a company in Dammam, and now wants a job as an accountant in Riyadh. Under Article 23 he may apply to have his name registered with the employment channels provided by the Ministry, stating his date of birth, his university qualification, his previous job, his preference for working as an accountant, and his address. According to Article 22, the employment channels then match his application with the vacancies reported by employers, and give him advice about training if he needs it.
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 23 of the Saudi Labor Law
Who may ask to be registered with the employment channels under Article 23?
Every citizen of working age who is able and willing to work. These three conditions together are what the article provides.
What details must be provided when asking to be registered?
The article specifies five items: date of birth, qualifications, previous jobs, preferences and address.
Is registering with the employment channels mandatory for a citizen?
No. The article frames registration as a right of the citizen to "ask" for their name to be registered, and does not provide that they are required to do so.
Is there a fee for registering with the employment channels?
Article 22 provides that the Ministry offers the employment channels free of charge, and through them registers job seekers and matches their applications with vacant jobs.
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 بإحلال كلمة "قنوات" محل كلمتي "وحدة" و "وحدات" أينما وردت في المادة
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
لكل مواطن في سن العمل قادر على العمل وراغب فيه أن يطلب قيد اسمه في وحدة التوظيف، مع بيان تاريخ مولده ومؤهلاته وأعماله السابقة ورغباته وعنوانه.
More articles on Recruitment and Employing Non-Saudis
- Article 11Amended (1436 AH)
Article 11 requires anyone entrusted with the employer's original work, or part of it, to give his own workers all the rights and benefits that the original employer gives his workers.
إذا عهد صاحب العمل لأي شخص طبيعي أو معنوي القيام بعمل من أعماله الأصلية، أو جزء منها؛ وجب على الأخير أن يعطي عماله جميع الحقوق والمزايا التي يعطيها صاحب العمل ا
- Article 11 bisAmended (1436 AH)
The article gives the Minister the power to take measures that ensure better labor market performance and regulate the movement of labor, without prejudice to the provisions of the law and related laws.
مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام هذا النظام والأنظمة ذات العلاقة؛ للوزير أن يتخذ الإجراءات التي من شأنها أن تكفل تحسين أداء سوق العمل، وتنظيم حركة انتقال الأيدي العاملة
- Article 21
Article 21 requires the Minister to coordinate with the relevant bodies whenever needed in order to implement the provisions of the Labor Law.
على الوزير- في سبيل تنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام- التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة كلما اقتضى الأمر ذلك.
- Article 22Amended by M/44
Article 22 requires the Ministry to provide free employment channels that connect workers and employers, collect labor market data, register job seekers and guide them toward suitable training.
توفر الوزارة قنوات للتوظيف دون مقابل، تقوم بما يأتي: 1 - مساعدة العمال في الحصول على الأعمال المناسبة، ومساعدة أصحاب الأعمال في إيجاد العمال المناسبين. 2 - جمع
- Article 24Amended by M/44
Article 24 refers to the Regulations the rules of operation, procedures, forms of records and notices, and occupational classification tables of the employment channels, as the basis for organizing hiring operations.
تحدد اللائحة قواعد سير العمل وإجراءاته في قنوات التوظيف، ونماذج السجلات والإشعارات والأوراق المستخدمة في أعمالها، وكذلك جداول تصنيف المهن وفقًا للتصنيف المهني ا
- Article 25Amended by M/44
Article 25 requires every employer to send periodic data to the Ministry on vacant and newly created jobs, nominated citizens, its workers, and an annual report on the state of work.
على كل صاحب عمل أن يرسل إلى الوزارة ما يأتي: 1 - بيانًا بالأعمال الشاغرة والمستحدثة، وأنواعها، ومكانها، والأجر المخصص لها، والشروط اللازم توافرها لشغلها، وذلك ف
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.