Article 47 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 47 من نظام البلديات والقرى
Heads of municipalities, their employees and staff are subject to the General Civil Service Law, the Staff Law and the Civil Retirement Law, except as excepted by regulations issued to implement Article (40).
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يخضع رؤساء وموظفو ومستخدمو البلديات لأحكام نظامي الموظفين العام والمستخدمين ونظام التقاعد المدني، إلا ما استثني بموجب اللوائح الصادرة تنفيذا للمادة (40) من هذا النظام.
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 47 explained in plain English
This article sets the laws that govern those working in municipalities:
- Whom does it cover? The heads of municipalities, their employees and their staff.
- The laws applied:
- The General Civil Service Law.
- The Staff Law.
- The Civil Retirement Law.
- The exception: anything excepted by the regulations issued to implement Article (40) of this law.
This means the rule is that those working in municipalities are subject to the same laws that govern state employees and staff and their civil retirement, unless those regulations include an exception. Someone who wants to know the rule on a particular employment matter starts with these laws, and then checks whether the regulations referred to have excepted that matter.
This article does not state the content of the exceptions, nor explain the provisions of the laws referred to; it is a referral rule.
Before it comes Article 46, which gives anyone harmed by actions and decisions of the municipal council or the head of the municipality the right to file a grievance with the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs. It is followed by Article 48, which authorizes the Minister to issue the implementing regulations and instructions of the law, and to delegate some of the Minister's powers to the officials entrusted with administering municipalities and villages.
Someone with a matter concerning employment or retirement rights as a municipal employee should consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
Practical example
An employee of a municipality in Taif governorate, approaching retirement age, asks which law governs the retirement. Under this article the employee is subject to the Civil Retirement Law, unless there is an exception in the regulations issued to implement Article (40).
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 47 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
Which laws govern municipal employees?
They are subject to the General Civil Service Law, the Staff Law and the Civil Retirement Law, except as excepted by the regulations issued to implement Article (40).
Is the head of the municipality subject to the Civil Retirement Law?
Yes. The article also covers heads of municipalities, unless an exception appears in those regulations.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Municipal Employees and Final Provisions
- Article 40
The procedures for spending the municipality's money, collecting its revenues and managing its employees, staff and workers are set by regulations, taking into account the nature of municipal work and approved by the Council of Ministers.
تنظم إجراءات صرف أموال البلدية واستيفاء وارداتها، وإدارة وتنظيم شئون موظفيها ومستخدميها وعمالها بلوائح يراعى فيها طبيعة أعمال البلديات، يصادق عليها مجلس الوزراء
- Article 48
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs issues the law's implementing regulations and instructions, and may delegate some of the Minister's powers to the officials entrusted with administering municipalities and villages.
يصدر وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية اللوائح والتعليمات التنفيذية لهذا النظام، وله تخويل بعض سلطاته المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام للمسئولين المناط بهم إدارة البلديات
- Article 49
The Municipalities and Villages Law repeals the Capital Secretariat and Municipalities Law, the Law Regulating Municipal Elections and anything that conflicts with it, subject to the Council of Ministers Law and the Provinces Law.
مع مراعاة نظام مجلس الوزراء ، ونظام المقاطعات، يلغي هذا النظام: 1 - نظام أمانة العاصمة والبلديات . 2 - نظام ترتيب الانتخابات البلدية . 3 - جميع ما يتعارض معه من
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.