Article 91 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 91 من نظام العمل · الباب السادس: شروط العمل وظروفه
Article 91 lets an employer deduct from a worker's wage compensation for machines or products the worker damaged through fault, up to 5 days' wage per month, with both parties able to file a grievance within 15 working days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا تسبب عامل في فقد أو إتلاف أو تدمير آلات أو منتجات يملكها صاحب العمل أو هي في عهدته وكان ذلك ناشئًا عن خطأ العامل أو مخالفته تعليمات صاحب العمل ولم يكن نتيجة لخطأ الغير أو ناشئًا عن قوة قاهرة، فلصاحب العمل أن يقتطع من أجر العامل المبلغ اللازم للإصلاح أو لإعادة الوضع إلى ما كان عليه على ألا يزيد ما يقتطع لهذا الغرض على أجر خمسة أيام في كل شهر، ولصاحب العمل الحق في التظلم عند الاقتضاء، وذلك بطلب ما هو أكثر من ذلك إذا كان للعامل مال آخر يمكن الاستيفاء منه، وللعامل أن يتظلم مما نسب إليه أو من تقدير صاحب العمل للتعويض أمام هيئة تسوية الخلافات العمالية، فإذا حكمت بعدم أحقية صاحب العمل في الرجوع على العامل بما اقتطعه منه أو حكمت بأقل منه وجب على صاحب العمل أن يرد إلى العامل ما اقتطع منه دون وجه حق خلال سبعة أيام من تاريخ صدور الحكم.
2 - يكون تظلم أي من الطرفين خلال خمسة عشر يوم عمل، وإلا سقط الحق فيه، ويبدأ موعد التظلم بالنسبة إلى صاحب العمل من تاريخ اكتشاف الواقعة، وبالنسبة إلى العامل من تاريخ إبلاغ صاحب العمل له 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 91 explained in plain English
Article 91 of the Labor Law deals with a common workplace situation: a worker causes the loss, damage or destruction of machines or products that the employer owns or that are in the employer's custody. It is one of the exceptions referred to in Article 92 (item 5), which in principle prohibits deductions from wages without the worker's written consent.
Conditions for deduction: the employer may deduct from the wage only if all of the following conditions are met:
- The damage must result from the worker's fault or the worker's violation of the employer's instructions.
- The damage must not result from the fault of another person (a third party).
- It must not result from force majeure beyond the worker's control.
Limits on the deduction: the amount is limited to what is needed for repair or to restore the situation to what it was, and may not exceed 5 days' wage in each month. If the compensation is greater than that, the employer may not go beyond this limit on the wage, but may bring a grievance before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority to claim more, if the worker has other property from which the amount can be recovered.
The worker's right to file a grievance: the worker may file a grievance before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority either against the attribution of the damage to them in the first place, or against the employer's assessment of the value of the compensation. If the Authority decides that the employer has no right of recourse against the worker, or awards a smaller amount, the employer must return what it deducted without right within 7 days of the date of the ruling.
The time limit for a grievance by both parties: paragraph 2 sets a period of 15 working days for filing a grievance, failing which the right to do so lapses. For the employer, the period starts from the date the incident is discovered, and for the worker, from the date the employer notifies them of what is attributed to them.
Note that this deduction is made from the wage that must be paid on the dates set in Article 90, so delaying payment of the wage on the pretext of calculating the compensation is not justified. Anyone facing a dispute over the assessment of the damage or their responsibility for it is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a technician at a factory in Dammam on a monthly wage of SAR 6,000. While operating a machine, he ignored the written operating instructions and the machine broke down, and the company estimated the cost of repair at SAR 2,000. Under Article 91, the company may not deduct from his monthly wage more than 5 days' wage (about SAR 1,000) in each month until the amount is recovered. If Ahmed believes the breakdown resulted from a prior defect in the machine and not from his fault, or that the company's estimate is exaggerated, he may file a grievance before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority within 15 working days of being notified. If the Authority rules in his favor in whole or in part, the company must return what it deducted without right within 7 days of the ruling.
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 91 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is the maximum that can be deducted from a worker's wage for damage they caused?
The amount deducted for this purpose may not exceed 5 days' wage in each month. If the employer wants more than that, it must bring a grievance before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority, provided the worker has other property from which the amount can be recovered.
Can a deduction be made if the damage was caused by force majeure or someone else's fault?
No. Article 91 requires the damage to result from the worker's fault or violation of the employer's instructions, and not to result from the fault of a third party or from force majeure.
What is the time limit for a grievance against a deduction for damage?
15 working days for each party, failing which the right to file a grievance lapses. For the employer it runs from the date the incident is discovered, and for the worker from the date the employer notifies them of what is attributed to them.
When must the employer return the deducted amount if the worker wins the grievance?
If the Authority decides that the employer has no right of recourse against the worker, or awards a smaller amount, the employer must return what it deducted without right within 7 days of the date of the ruling.
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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.