Article 17 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
المادة 17 من نظام التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل
The Article provides that the subscriber's age is determined by their birth certificate or the certificate issued by the competent authority under the law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحدد سن المشترك بشهادة ميلاده أو بالشهادة التي تصدرها الجهة المختصة نظاماً.
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 17 explained in plain English
This Article sets the means of proving the subscriber's age, which is one of two:
- The birth certificate.
- Or the certificate issued by the competent authority under the law.
The Article does not name the competent authority, nor give priority between the two means if they differ, so the relevant laws are consulted on that.
Why does proving age matter in this Law? Because age affects many provisions:
- For mandatory application, Article 3 requires that the worker's age when the Law starts applying to them is under fifty-nine, and it stops the contribution of someone who reaches sixty while still at work.
- One of the conditions of entitlement to compensation in Article 8 is that the subscriber has not reached sixty.
- One of the cases of suspension in Article 15 is reaching sixty while entitled to a pension under the Social Insurance Law.
Determining age accurately decides whether a worker is subject to the Law, whether they are entitled to compensation, and when it stops. A subscriber should therefore make sure their recorded date of birth is correct. Anyone with a discrepancy in their date of birth that affects their rights would do best to consult a lawyer specialized in social insurance.
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 17 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
How is the subscriber's age determined in unemployment insurance?
By their birth certificate or the certificate issued by the competent authority under the law.
Why does the subscriber's age matter?
Because the Law links age to being subject to it, to stopping contributions at sixty, and to the condition of not having reached sixty to be entitled to compensation.
More articles on Persons Covered by Unemployment Insurance
- Article 2
The article makes unemployment insurance a branch of social insurance that ensures compensation for subscribers who are out of work, under the Law's provisions.
يعد التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل فرعاً من فروع التأمينات الاجتماعية، ويكفل تقديم التعويض للمشتركين المتعطلين عن العمل وفق الأحكام المحددة بموجبه.
- Article 3
The article applies the Law compulsorily to Saudi workers without discrimination of sex if under 59 when it starts to apply to them, and stops a subscriber's contributions at age 60.
1- يطبق النظام بصورة إلزامية على جميع العمال السعوديين دون أي تمييز في الجنس، بشرط أن تكون سن العامل عند بدء تطبيق النظام عليه دون سن التاسعة والخمسين. 2- إذا ب
- Article 4
The article requires employers to apply the Law and the Regulations from the day the conditions are met, and refers the way employers and subscribers register with the Organization to the Regulations.
1- يلتزم أصحاب العمل بتطبيق هذا النظام واللائحة، ويبدأ التطبيق من اليوم الذي تكتمل فيه الشروط المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام واللائحة. 2- تحدد اللائحة طريقة التسجي
- Article 26
The Article voids any agreement or settlement that contradicts the Law, made by those it covers, if it would harm subscribers' rights or impose additional obligations on them.
كل اتفاقٍ أو تسويةٍ تخالف أحكام هذا النظام وتصدر ممن يشملهم، تُعدُّ باطلة إذا كان من شأنها أن تضر بحقوق المشتركين أو تحملهم التزامات إضافية.
- Article 27
The Article provides that the Social Insurance Law applies to matters the Unemployment Insurance Law does not address, to the extent consistent with its nature.
فيما لم يرد به نص في هذا النظام، يطبق نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية بالقدر الذي يتفق مع طبيعة هذا النظام.
- Article 28
The Article requires the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations with the Board of Directors' approval within 60 days of the Law's publication, and to publish them in the Official Gazette.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة - بناءً على موافقة مجلس الإدارة - خلال ستين يوماً من تاريخ نشر هذا النظام، وتنشر في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.