Article 42 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 42 من نظام العمل · الباب الرابع: التدريب والتأهيل
Article 42 requires every employer to set a policy for training and qualifying its Saudi workers to raise their skills in technical, administrative and professional work, and leaves the detailed provisions to the Implementing Regulations.
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 كل صاحب عمل وضع سياسة لتدريب عماله السعوديين وتأهيلهم، من أجل رفع مهاراتهم وتحسين مستواهم في الأعمال الفنية والإدارية والمهنية وغيرها. وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المتصلة بذلك.
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 42 explained in plain English
Article 42 of the Labor Law imposes a general obligation on every employer, without exception by size or activity, to set a policy for training and qualifying its Saudi workers. The stated aim in the text is to raise these workers' skills and improve their level in technical, administrative, professional and other work.
The substance of the obligation can be understood as follows:
- Who is bound: the employer, which is the party addressed with setting the policy.
- Who benefits: the Saudi workers of the employer; the text singles out this category for training and qualification.
- Nature of the obligation: setting a policy, meaning the Law asks for a clear framework for training and qualification, not merely occasional initiatives.
- Scope of training: it is not limited to one type of work, but covers technical, administrative, professional and other aspects.
As for the implementation details, such as how the policy is set, its content and how it is applied, the text expressly refers them to the Implementing Regulations, and the Law itself does not set specific ratios, periods or procedures.
This article comes in Part Four on training and qualification, and is complemented by Article 43, which adds a more specific obligation: if the employer bears the costs of a Saudi worker's studies, it must qualify or train them for its work after they complete their studies, taking into account what franchise agreements and other special conditions provide. Article 41, by contrast, deals with a different subject, namely the conditions for recruitment, transfer of services and change of profession, and it too refers to the Regulations.
This article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, with the amendment effective from 20/8/1446 AH, and the explanation here deals with the text in force after the amendment.
A Saudi worker who believes their establishment does not apply any policy for training or qualification may inquire about this with its management, and where it is necessary to know the details of the Regulations and the mechanisms for grievance, it is advisable to refer to a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
An establishment in Riyadh works in information technology and has a number of Saudi employees in technical support, accounting and customer service. Under Article 42, the establishment's management must set a written policy for training and qualifying these employees, including for example programs to raise their technical and administrative skills, according to the provisions set by the Implementing Regulations. If the establishment bears the costs of one of its Saudi employees' studies, such as by funding their university education, Article 43 adds an obligation to qualify or train them for the establishment's work after they complete their studies.
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 42 of the Saudi Labor Law
Is training Saudi workers mandatory for the employer?
Yes. Article 42 provides that every employer must set a policy for training and qualifying its Saudi workers in order to raise their skills and improve their level in technical, administrative, professional and other work.
Does Article 42 set a particular ratio or period for training?
No. The statutory text sets no ratios or periods, and only requires the employer to set a policy for training and qualification, referring the related provisions to the Implementing Regulations.
What is the difference between Article 42 and Article 43 of the Labor Law?
Article 42 sets a general obligation to set a policy for training and qualifying Saudi workers, while Article 43 concerns a specific case: if the employer bears the costs of a Saudi worker's studies, it must qualify or train them for its work after they complete their studies.
Was Article 42 of the Labor Law amended?
Yes. It was amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 dated 8/2/1446 AH, effective from 20/8/1446 AH, and the text in force requires the employer to set a policy for training and qualifying its Saudi workers and refers the details to the Regulations.
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: "على كل صاحب عمل وضع سياسة لتدريب عماله السعوديين وتأهيلهم، من أجل رفع مهاراتهم وتحسين مستواهم في الأعمال الفنية والإدارية والمهنية وغيرها. وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المتصلة بذلك".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
على كل صاحب عمل إعداد عماله السعوديين، وتحسين مستواهم في الأعمال الفنية والإدارية والمهنية وغيرها، بهدف إحلالهم تدريجيًّا في الأعمال التي يقوم بها غير السعوديين. وعليه أن يعد سجلًا يقيد فيه أسماء العمال السعوديين الذين أحلهم محل غير السعوديين بحسب الشروط والقواعد التي تحددها اللائحة.
More articles on Training and Qualification
- Article 5Amended (1436 AH)
Article 5 sets the scope of the Labor Law: every paid employment contract under an employer's management, government and public-body workers, charity workers, training contracts, and part-time workers within set limits.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام على الآتي : 1 - كل عقد عمل يلتزم بمقتضاه أي شخص بالعمل لمصلحة صاحب عمل وتحت إدارته أو إشرافه؛ مقابل أجر. 2 - عمال الحكومة والهيئات والمؤسس
- 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 26
Article 26 requires every establishment, whatever its size or activity, to attract, hire and train Saudis, with Saudis making up at least 75% of workers, which the Minister may temporarily reduce.
1- على جميع المنشآت في مختلف أنشطتها، وأيًّا كان عدد العاملين فيها، العمل على استقطاب السعوديين وتوظيفهم، وتوفير وسائل استمرارهم في العمل، وإتاحة الفرصة المناسب
- Article 41
Article 41 refers to the Regulations the conditions for recruiting non-Saudi labor, transferring its services and changing its profession, and the related controls and procedures.
تحدد اللائحة شروط الاستقدام، ونقل الخدمات، وتغيير المهنة، وضوابط ذلك وإجراءاته.
- Article 43Amended by M/44
Article 43 requires an employer to qualify or train, for its work, the Saudi workers who complete their studies at its expense, subject to the terms of franchise agreements, and refers the details to the Regulations.
دون إخلال بما تنص عليه اتفاقيات الامتياز وغيرها من الاتفاقيات من شروط وقواعد خاصة بالتدريب والتأهيل ورفع المهارات؛ على كل صاحب عمل أن يؤهل أو يدرب على أعماله من
- Article 44Amended by M/44
Article 44 requires a training program to state the target skill, its rules, duration, hours, theoretical and practical programs, testing method and certificates, and refers the detailed standards to the Regulations.
يجب أن يشتمل برنامج التدريب على المهارة التي يتدرب العامل عليها والقواعد والشروط التي تتبع في التدريب، وعلى مدته وعدد ساعاته والبرامج التدريبية النظرية والعملية
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.