Article 62 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 62 من نظام العمل · الباب الخامس: علاقات العمل
Article 62 requires the employer to pay a worker's wage for the period they did not work if they attended or showed readiness to work and were prevented by a reason attributable to the employer.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا حضر العامل لأداء عمله في الوقت المحدد لذلك، أو بين أنه مستعد لأداء عمله في هذا الوقت، ولم يمنعه عن العمل إلا سبب راجع إلى صاحب العمل؛ كان له الحق في أجر المدة التي لا يؤدي فيها العمل.
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 62 explained in plain English
Article 62 of the Labor Law lays down a simple and fair rule: wages are in return for readiness to work, not for actual work alone. If the worker is ready to perform their work and is then prevented from working by a reason attributable to the employer, the worker is entitled to the wage for the period in which they did not perform the work, and it may not be deducted from their wages.
For this article to apply, 3 conditions stated in its text must all be met:
- Attendance or readiness: the worker attends to perform their work at the set time, or shows that they are ready to perform it at that time.
- An obstacle to work: the worker is actually prevented from performing their work.
- The reason must be attributable to the employer alone: the text requires that nothing prevent the worker from working except a reason attributable to the employer, such as the employer temporarily closing the workplace or not providing what is needed to perform the work, for example.
This means the article does not apply if the reason for the stoppage is attributable to the worker themselves, such as absence or lateness, or if the reason is not attributable to the employer at all; in these cases the matter is governed by other provisions of the Law, and it is preferable to consult a labor lawyer to assess each case according to its circumstances.
This article is complemented by Article 61, which prevents the employer from withholding a worker's wages or part of them without a judicial instrument, and requires it to give workers the time needed to exercise their rights without deduction from wages; just as wages may not be withheld, the worker may not be deprived of them for a stoppage they did not cause. Article 63 moves on to another duty of the employer, namely preventing any substance forbidden by Sharia from entering the workplace.
In practice, it is advisable for the worker in this situation to keep what proves their attendance or readiness to work at the set time, and what proves that the obstacle came from the employer, because these two things are the basis of entitlement to wages under this article.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a technician at a factory in Dammam, and he came to the work site at 7 a.m. as set out in his shift schedule. The supervisor told him that management had decided to stop the production line for 3 days to rearrange equipment, and asked him to go back to his housing. At the end of the month Ahmed was surprised to find the wage for these three days deducted. Applying Article 62, Ahmed attended at the set time and was ready to work, and the only obstacle was a decision made by the employer, so he is entitled to the wage for this period in full and it may not be deducted.
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 62 of the Saudi Labor Law
Is a worker entitled to their wage if the employer temporarily stops work?
Yes. Article 62 provides that a worker who attended at the set time or showed readiness to work and was prevented only by a reason attributable to the employer is entitled to the wage for the period in which they did not perform the work.
Must the worker actually attend the workplace to be entitled to the wage?
The article is satisfied with one of two things: attending to perform the work at the set time, or the worker showing that they are ready to perform their work at that time.
May the employer deduct the days of stoppage from the worker's salary?
Not if the reason for the stoppage is attributable to the employer and the worker was present or ready to work, because Article 62 establishes their right to the wage for that period, and Article 61 prevents withholding wages or part of them without a judicial instrument.
What if the reason for the stoppage is not attributable to the employer?
Article 62 expressly requires that the obstacle be a reason attributable to the employer alone; if this condition is not met the article does not apply, and the case is governed by other provisions on which it is advisable to consult a labor lawyer.
More articles on Wages
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تعد المبالغ المستحقة للعامل أو ورثته بمقتضى هذا النظام ديونًا ممتازة من الدرجة الأولى. وللعامل وورثته في سبيل استيفائها امتياز على جميع أموال صاحب العمل. وفي حا
- Article 59
Article 59 prevents moving a worker from monthly wages to daily, weekly, piece-rate or hourly pay except with their written consent, while preserving their acquired rights.
لا يجوز نقل العامل ذي الأجر الشهري إلى فئة عمال اليومية أو العمال المعينين بالأجر الأسبوعي أو بالقطعة أو بالساعة، إلا إذا وافق العامل على ذلك كتابة، ومع عدم الإ
- Article 61Amended by M/44
Article 61 imposes basic duties on the employer toward its workers: no forced labor or withholding of wages, respect, time to exercise rights, facilitating inspection, no discrimination, and housing and transport or a cash allowance.
بالإضافة إلى الواجبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام واللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تطبيقاً له، يجب على صاحب العمل ما يأتي: 1 - أن يمتنع عن تشغيل العامل سخرة، وألا يحت
- Article 70
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لا يجوز توقيع جزاء تأديبي على العامل لأمر ارتكبه خارج مكان العمل ما لم يكن متصلًا بالعمل أو بصاحبه أو مديره المسؤول، كما لا يجوز أن يوقع على العامل عن المخالفة
- Article 73Amended (1436 AH)
Article 73 requires the employer to enter fines imposed on workers in a special register, and bars disposing of them except for the benefit of the establishment's workers, through the workers' committee or with the Ministry's approval.
يجب على صاحب العمل أن يكتب الغرامات التي يوقعها على العامل في سجل خاص، مع بيان اسم العامل ومقدار أجره ومقدار الغرامة وسبب توقيعها وتاريخ ذلك. ولا يجوز التصرف في
- Article 78Amended (1436 AH)
Article 78 gives a worker whose employer has given notice of termination the right to be absent with pay for a day or 8 hours a week to look for work, and allows the employer to excuse them from work while their pay continues.
إذا كان الإشعار من جانب صاحب العمل، فيحق للعامل أن يتغيب خلال مهلة الإشعار يوماً كاملاً في الأسبوع أو ثماني ساعات أثناء الأسبوع، وذلك للبحث عن عمل آخر مع استحقا
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.