Article 93 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 93 من نظام العمل · الباب السادس: شروط العمل وظروفه
Article 93 caps total deductions from a worker's wage at half of the wage due, with limited exceptions decided by the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز- في جميع الأحوال- أن تزيد نسبة المبالغ المحسومة على نصف أجر العامل المستحق، ما لم يثبت لدى هيئة تسوية الخلافات العمالية إمكان الزيادة في الحسم على تلك النسبة، أو يثبت لديها حاجة العامل إلى أكثر من نصف أجره، وفي هذه الحالة الأخيرة لا يعطى العامل أكثر من ثلاثة أرباع أجره، مهما كان الأمر.
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 93 explained in plain English
Article 93 of the Labor Law sets a general maximum on everything deducted from a worker's wage, whatever the reason for the deduction. Even if several lawful deductions of the kind listed in Article 92 accumulate against a worker (such as an installment on an employer loan, insurance contributions, a fine, or a debt under a court judgment), their total may not exceed half of the wage due to the worker, "in all cases" as the article states.
The purpose of this rule is that the worker is always left with enough to live on, so that the whole wage does not turn into repayment of debts and fines.
The article sets two exceptions that the employer cannot exercise on its own, and which belong to the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority alone:
- Exceeding half: if it is established before the Authority that the worker's circumstances allow a deduction of more than half of their wage, the Authority may permit this proportion to be exceeded.
- Relief for the worker: if it is established before the Authority that the worker needs more than half of their wage, it may decide to reduce the deduction so that the worker receives more than half, but on the condition that the worker is not given more than three quarters of their wage in any event; that is, at least a quarter of the wage remains directed to paying what the worker owes.
This article complements the ones before and after it:
- Article 92 sets out the cases in which deduction is permitted without written consent and certain limits specific to each case (such as 10% for employer loans, and one quarter of the wage for a debt under a court judgment unless the judgment provides otherwise), while Article 93 sets the overall cap on their total.
- Article 94 gives the worker, their representative or the director of the competent labor office the right to apply to the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority to recover what was deducted without right, with the possibility of fining the employer an amount not exceeding twice the amount deducted.
Accordingly, if a worker notices that the total deductions from their pay exceed half without a decision from the Authority, they may turn to it under Article 94, and it is advisable to consult a labor lawyer to assess their position.
Practical example
Khalid works for a company in Jeddah with a wage due of SAR 8,000 per month. He owes an installment on a loan from the company, a fine for a violation, and a debt to another party being collected under a court judgment at one quarter of the wage. When these deductions are added up, they reach SAR 4,600, which is more than half of his wage. Under Article 93, the company may not deduct more than SAR 4,000 (half of the wage) per month unless the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority issues a decision permitting more. If Khalid applies to the Authority and establishes that he needs more than half of his wage, it may reduce the deduction so that he receives between half and three quarters of his wage, that is, no more than SAR 6,000.
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 93 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is the maximum that can be deducted from a worker's salary in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 93 of the Labor Law, the total of the amounts deducted may not exceed half of the worker's wage due in all cases, except by a decision of the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority.
Can an employer deduct more than half of the salary?
The employer cannot do so on its own. Exceeding half of the wage is permitted only if it is established before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority that the deduction can be increased beyond that proportion.
What if the worker needs more than half of their wage?
If it is established before the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority that the worker needs more than half of their wage, it may reduce the deduction, but the worker is not given more than three quarters of their wage in any event.
What should I do if the deductions from my salary exceed half?
Article 94 allows the worker, their representative or the director of the competent labor office to apply to the Labor Disputes Settlement Authority to order the employer to return what was deducted without right, and the Authority may fine the employer an amount not exceeding twice the amount deducted.
More articles on Wages
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Article 19 makes sums due to the worker or his heirs first-degree privileged debts on all of the employer's property, with an advance of one month's wage paid on bankruptcy or liquidation.
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
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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 62
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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 الم
- Article 70
Article 70 limits the employer's disciplinary power: no punishing conduct outside work unless connected with it, one sanction per violation, and a ceiling of five days for fines, deductions and suspension without pay.
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
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.