Article 32 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 32 من نظام العمل · الباب الثالث: توظيف غير السعوديين
Article 32 requires the Ministry's prior approval before anyone is recruited from outside the Kingdom for work.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز الاستقدام بقصد العمل إلا بعد موافقة الوزارة .
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 32 explained in plain English
Article 32 of the Labor Law sets a short and decisive rule: no person may be recruited from outside the Kingdom for work except after obtaining the Ministry's approval. The approval here is a condition that comes before recruitment, not a later step that can be completed after the worker arrives.
Whom does this text address?
- The employer who wishes to bring in labor from abroad, whether skilled or ordinary.
- Recruitment offices and companies that recruit on behalf of employers; under Article 31, workers recruited by these offices are considered workers of the employer itself and are tied to it by a direct contractual relationship, so the approval condition remains in place in this case too.
How does this article connect with what follows? Articles 32 and 33 can be seen as two successive stages:
- Before recruitment: the Ministry's approval of the recruitment under Article 32.
- After the worker enters: a non-Saudi may not work, and may not be allowed to, until a work permit is obtained from the Ministry under Article 33, among whose conditions are that the worker entered the country lawfully and is authorized to work, and that the worker is contracted with an employer and under its responsibility.
Thus the Ministry's approval of recruitment does not replace the work permit, and the reverse is also true; the lawful entry and authorization to work that Article 33 requires begin in practice from the prior approval provided for in Article 32.
The article itself does not specify the procedures, forms or periods for requesting the approval, and leaves that to the Ministry. If an employer or worker faces a problem relating to recruitment carried out without approval, it is best to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases to assess the position.
Practical example
A contracting company in Dammam needs an air-conditioning technician from abroad, and has contracted with a recruitment office to complete the procedures. Before the office takes any step to bring in the worker, the company must obtain the Ministry's approval of the recruitment under Article 32. After the technician arrives lawfully, he may not start work, and the company may not allow him to, until a work permit is obtained from the Ministry under Article 33, and he is considered a worker of the company directly under Article 31 even though the office recruited him.
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 32 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can an employer recruit a worker from abroad and then ask for the Ministry's approval later?
No. Article 32 expressly provides that recruitment for work may not take place except after the Ministry's approval, so the approval is a condition that comes before recruitment and not a step completed afterward.
Is the Ministry's approval of recruitment enough for a non-Saudi worker to start work?
It is not enough on its own. Article 33 additionally requires the non-Saudi worker to obtain a work permit from the Ministry before doing any work, among whose conditions are lawful entry, authorization to work and being contracted with an employer.
Does the approval condition apply if recruitment is done through a recruitment office?
Yes. Article 32 requires approval for any recruitment for work without exception, and Article 31 treats workers recruited by offices on behalf of employers as workers of the employer itself.
Does Article 32 set the procedures for obtaining approval?
No. The article only establishes the condition of the Ministry's prior approval and does not state the application procedures or periods, which are matters the Ministry determines.
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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
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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
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على الوزير- في سبيل تنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام- التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة كلما اقتضى الأمر ذلك.
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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
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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.
- 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
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.