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Article 34 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure

المادة 34 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني: الاختصاص

Article 34 gives the labor courts jurisdiction over disputes on employment contracts, wages, work injuries, disciplinary penalties, dismissal, Labor Law penalties, social insurance complaints after an objection is rejected, and government workers under the Labor Law.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

تختص المحاكم العمالية بالنظر في الآتي:

أ - المنازعات المتعلقة بعقود العمل والأجور والحقوق وإصابات العمل والتعويض عنها.

ب - المنازعات المتعلقة بإيقاع صاحب العمل الجزاءات التأديبية على العامل، أو المتعلقة بطلب الإعفاء منها.

ج - الدعاوى المرفوعة لإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في نظام العمل.

د - المنازعات المترتبة على الفصل من العمل.

هـ - شكاوى أصحاب العمل والعمال الذين لم تقبل اعتراضاتهم ضد أي قرار صادر من أي جهاز مختص في المؤسسة العامة للتأمينات الاجتماعية، يتعلق بوجوب التسجيل والاشتراكات أو التعويضات.

و - المنازعات المتعلقة بالعمال الخاضعين لأحكام نظام العمل، بمن في ذلك عمال الحكومة.

ز - المنازعات الناشئة عن تطبيق نظام العمل ونظام التأمينات الاجتماعية، دون إخلال باختصاصات المحاكم الأخرى وديوان المظالم.

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 34 explained in plain English

This article states what the labor courts have jurisdiction over, namely:

  • (a) Disputes relating to employment contracts, wages, rights, work injuries and compensation for them.
  • (b) Disputes relating to the employer's imposition of disciplinary penalties on the worker, or relating to a request for exemption from them.
  • (c) Cases filed to impose the penalties provided in the Labor Law.
  • (d) Disputes resulting from dismissal from work.
  • (e) Complaints by employers and workers whose objections were not accepted against any decision issued by any competent body of the General Organization for Social Insurance, relating to the obligation to register, contributions or compensation.
  • (f) Disputes relating to workers subject to the provisions of the Labor Law, including government workers.
  • (g) Disputes arising from the application of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law, without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the other courts and the Board of Grievances.

Important observations:

  • Complaints relating to social insurance decisions fall under paragraph (e) after the objection has not been accepted; the article presumes a prior objection.
  • Paragraph (f) includes government workers who are subject to the provisions of the Labor Law.
  • Paragraph (g) does not remove the jurisdiction of the other courts and the Board of Grievances.

This article comes within the provisions on subject-matter jurisdiction alongside Article 33, which determines the jurisdiction of the personal status courts. To determine the body competent over your dispute and the correct procedural route, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.

Practical example

Khaled was dismissed from his job at a company in Riyadh, and he believes the dismissal was unlawful and that he is owed back wages. Disputes resulting from dismissal from work and those relating to wages fall within the jurisdiction of the labor court under this article.

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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Frequently asked questions about Article 34 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure

Which cases does the labor court hear?

Disputes on employment contracts, wages, rights, work injuries and compensation, disciplinary penalties, dismissal, Labor Law penalties, social insurance complaints after an objection is not accepted, and others the article mentions.

Can a case against a social insurance decision be filed in the labor court?

Yes. It has jurisdiction over complaints by employers and workers whose objections were not accepted against a decision of a competent body of the Organization relating to the obligation to register, contributions or compensation.

Does the labor court include government workers?

Yes. It has jurisdiction over disputes relating to workers subject to the provisions of the Labor Law, including government workers.

Where is a dismissal case filed?

Disputes resulting from dismissal from work fall within the jurisdiction of the labor courts.

More articles on Judicial Jurisdiction

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.