Article 45 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law

المادة 45 من نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية · الباب الرابع: فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل

The article lists ten conditions for entitlement to unemployment compensation, including Saudi nationality and contribution period, and that unemployment is not due to dismissal for the worker's fault or leaving by choice.

Official text (Arabic)

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

یحق للمشترك المتعطل عن العمل الحصول على تعويض فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل، إذا توافرت لديه الشروط الآتية:

أ- أن يكون سعودي الجنسية.

ب- أن يكون قد أكمل المدد المحددة في الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة والأربعين) من النظام.

ج- ألا يكون مفصولاً من العمل بسبب راجع إليه.

د- ألا یكون له نشاط خاص أو دخل من عمل.

هـ- ألا يكون تركه العمل بسبب عدم رغبته في الاستمرار فيه.

و- أن یكون قادراً على العمل.

ز- ألا یكون قد بلغ السن النظامية لاستحقاق المعاش.

ح- أن يقوم بالتسجیل بعد ترك العمل الخاضع للنظام خلال المهلة التي تحددها اللائحة.

ط- أن يقوم بالبحث الجاد عن العمل.

ي- أن يكون ملتزماً بالتدریب.

وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام اللازمة لتطبيق ما ورد في هذه المادة.

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 45 explained in plain English

This article sets the conditions that must all be met by an unemployed subscriber to be entitled to compensation from the unemployment insurance branch:

The subscriber must be of Saudi nationality.
The subscriber must have completed the contribution periods set in paragraph (1) of Article 46.
The subscriber must not have been dismissed for a reason attributable to the subscriber.
The subscriber must not have a private activity or income from work.
The subscriber must not have left work because of not wishing to continue in it.
The subscriber must be able to work.
The subscriber must not have reached the statutory age of entitlement to a pension.
The subscriber must register after leaving work within the deadline the Regulations set.
The subscriber must carry out a serious search for work.
The subscriber must be committed to training.

The basic idea is that the compensation is directed at someone who lost their job against their will, so someone who resigns because they no longer wish to continue, or who is dismissed for a reason attributable to them, is not entitled to it. Continued payment is also tied to a serious search for work and commitment to training; Article 49 provides that the loss of any of these conditions stops payment.

The article leaves the detailed provisions to the Regulations, such as the registration deadline and what counts as a serious search. If a request is refused, a lawyer specialized in social insurance matters can be consulted.

Practical example

A company in Riyadh ended Khaled's services as part of a reduction in staff, and not for a reason attributable to him. If he is a Saudi who completed the required contribution period, registered within the set deadline, has no income from work or a private activity, and is committed to searching for work and training, he is entitled to the compensation. His colleague who resigned because he no longer wished to work is not entitled to it.

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 content

A question about Article 45 of Social Insurance Law?

Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.