Article 57 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 57 من نظام العمل · الباب الخامس: علاقات العمل
Article 57 provides that an employment contract concluded to perform a specific job ends automatically once the agreed work is completed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان العقد من أجل القيام بعمل معين فإنه ينتهي بإنجاز العمل المتفق عليه.
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 57 explained in plain English
Article 57 of the Labor Law deals with a special type of employment contract, namely a contract concluded to carry out a specific job, that is, a contract in which the parties do not set a particular time period but identify a particular task or project that the worker undertakes to complete. The rule the article lays down is simple and clear: this contract ends on completion of the agreed work, so it is the completion of the task that ends the contractual relationship, not the passing of a set date.
The following results flow from this in practice:
- The criterion for ending is completion: as long as the agreed work is not complete, the contract remains in place with all its obligations on both parties, and as soon as it is complete the contract ends.
- The importance of defining the work precisely: because the end is tied to completing the work, it is in the interest of the worker and the employer that the contract describe the required task clearly enough to make it easy to know when it is considered complete, and that completion be documented in writing to avoid disputes.
- Distinction from a fixed-term contract: Article 56, which precedes this article, speaks of the fixed-term contract and its renewal, and makes the renewal term an extension of the original term when calculating the worker's rights linked to length of service. Article 57 sets an independent rule for a contract for a specific job, in which what counts is completion of the work and not the duration.
Article 58 then comes to regulate an aspect of performing the contract while it is in force, namely transferring the worker from their place of work, as it prevents transferring them without their written consent to a place that requires changing their place of residence, with an exception for temporary assignment in cases of necessity for a period not exceeding 30 days a year at the employer's expense.
Article 57 does not address the financial rights arising on the end of the contract or the details of proving completion; these are governed by other articles of the Law and by what the parties agree, and where there is a dispute over whether the work has actually been completed, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases.
Practical example
A contracting company in Riyadh contracted with engineer Ahmed to design and supervise the execution of the electrical drawings for a specified residential building, and the contract provided that its subject was the completion of this particular project, without specifying a time period. After 14 months the building was handed over and the electrical works were approved by the competent authority. Under Article 57, Ahmed's contract ends with the completion of this agreed work, and even if the company intends to start a new project, his work on the new project requires a new agreement between the parties.
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 57 of the Saudi Labor Law
When does an employment contract concluded to perform a specific job end?
According to Article 57 of the Labor Law, this contract ends on completion of the agreed work, so completion of the task specified in the contract is what ends the contractual relationship.
What is the difference between a contract for a specific job and a fixed-term contract?
A fixed-term contract ends on the expiry of its term, and Article 56 deals with its renewal and treats the renewal term as an extension of the original term. A contract for a specific job governed by Article 57 ends on completion of the work itself, regardless of the time it takes.
Does the contract continue if the agreed work is not complete?
Yes. Article 57 ties the end of the contract to completion of the agreed work, so as long as the work is not completed the contract remains in place with its obligations on both parties.
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يبطل كل شرط يخالف أحكام هذا النظام، ويبطل كل إبراء أو مصالحة عن الحقوق الناشئة للعامل بموجب هذا النظام أثناء سريان عقد العمل، ما لم يكن أكثر فائدة للعامل.
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إذا انتقلت ملكية المنشأة لمالك جديد، أو طرأ تغيير على شكلها النظامي بالدمج أو التجزئة أو غير ذلك، تبقى عقود العمل نافذة في الحالين، وتعد الخدمة مستمرة. أما بالن
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عقد العمل هو عقد مبرم بين صاحب عمل وعامل، يتعهد الأخير بموجبه أن يعمل تحت إدارة صاحب العمل أو إشرافه مقابل أجر.
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.