Article 16 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 16 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
The employment of prisoners and detainees follows rules set by the Ministry of Interior jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون تشغيل المسجونين والموقوفين وفق قواعد تضعها وزارة الداخلية بالاشتراك مع وزارة العمل والشئون الاجتماعية .
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 16 explained in plain English
This article deals with the employment of prisoners and detainees, that is, their performing work while in prison or a detention facility.
The article does not itself lay down the rules of employment, but specifies the authority that sets its rules:
- the Ministry of Interior,
- jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (as named in the text).
The rules are therefore joint between the two authorities, and neither sets them alone. The text does not mention details such as the type of work, its hours, or what the prisoner may receive for it; these appear in those rules.
It is preceded by Article (15), which deals with a child staying with his imprisoned or detained mother until age two and then being handed to his father or to the person entitled to his custody under Sharia. It is followed by Article (17), which requires prison and detention administrations to ensure that a Muslim can perform his religious rites and to provide him the means, and requires each prison or detention facility to have one or more religious counselors and one or more specialists in social and psychological sciences.
Anyone with a question about the employment of a particular prisoner can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Do prisoners work inside prisons in Saudi Arabia?
The article provides that the employment of prisoners and detainees follows rules set by the Ministry of Interior jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Who sets the rules for employing prisoners?
The Ministry of Interior, jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
More articles on Rights of Prisoners and Detainees
- Article 10
The Implementing Regulations set the rules for classifying prisoners by type and seriousness of crime, repetition and length of sentence, and the bases that make their rehabilitation easier.
تضع اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد تقسيم المسجونين وفقا لنوع الجرائم المحكوم عليهم من أجلها وخطورتها وتكرار ارتكابها ووفقا لمدد العقوبة وللأسس التي تيسر تقويم المحكوم
- Article 12
The Implementing Regulations set rules for visits, correspondence and the treatment of detainees, including food at their own expense and their own clothing, and the Minister of Interior may grant some of these privileges to a category of convicts.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد زيارة المسجونين والموقوفين ومراسلاتهم كما تضع قواعد معاملة الموقوفين وجواز حصولهم على طعام على نفقتهم الخاصة وارتدائهم زيهم الخاص ف
- Article 17
Prison and detention administrations must ensure a Muslim can perform his religious rites and provide the means, and each must have one or more religious counselors and one or more social and psychological specialists.
يجب على إدارات السجون ودور التوقيف أن تكفل محافظة المسلم في السجن أو دار التوقيف على إقامة شعائره الدينية الإسلامية وأن تهيئ له الوسائل اللازمة لأدائها. ويكون ل
- Article 18
The Ministry of Interior sets education curricula in prisons with the competent authorities, the Implementing Regulations set examination rules, a library is established, and prisoners may bring in books and newspapers at their own expense.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالاتفاق مع الجهات المختصة المسئولة عن التعليم والتوعية مناهج التعليم والتثقيف داخل السجون ودور التوقيف . وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد وإجرا
- Article 19
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the competent authorities, sets social service programs inside prisons and detention facilities and for the families of prisoners and detainees.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة برامج للخدمة الاجتماعية داخل السجون ودور التوقيف ، ولأسر المسجونين والموقوفين.
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.