Article 21 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
المادة 21 من نظام التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل
The Article provides that unemployment compensation may not be seized or assigned except under the same conditions set for wages in the Labor Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
التعويض المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام غير قابل للحجز أو التنازل إلا وفق الشروط نفسها المحددة فيما يتعلق بالأجور المنصوص عليها في نظام العمل.
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 21 explained in plain English
This Article protects unemployment compensation as the beneficiary's source of income during their unemployment, providing that it is:
- Not subject to seizure.
- Not subject to assignment.
The only exception is that seizure or assignment is made under the same conditions set for wages in the Labor Law. The Article sets no new conditions; it refers to what the Labor Law provides on seizing and assigning wages and applies it to the compensation. This Law does not contain those conditions, so they must be found in the Labor Law itself.
The practical effect:
- A creditor may seize the compensation only within the limits and conditions in which wages may be seized.
- The beneficiary may assign their compensation to another only under the same conditions.
Under Article 1, compensation is the cash benefits the Law provides, and Article 20 refers its payment procedures and times to the Implementing Regulations. Article 26 also makes void any agreement or settlement that contradicts the Law's provisions if it would harm subscribers' rights.
Anyone whose compensation is subjected to a seizure or deduction that they believe is improper would do best to consult a lawyer specialized in social insurance or in enforcement cases.
Practical example
Saad owes a debt to a shop in Taif, and the creditor asked to seize the unemployment compensation he receives. This is permitted only under the same conditions under which the Labor Law allows seizure of wages, so the compensation cannot be freely seized like any other property.
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 21 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
Can unemployment compensation be seized?
Only under the same conditions set for wages in the Labor Law.
Can unemployment compensation be assigned to another person?
It may be assigned only under the same conditions set for wages in the Labor Law.
More articles on Amount and Duration of Unemployment Compensation
- Article 11
The Article sets compensation at 60% of the average contribution-subject wages for each of the first three months, and 50% for each month after that.
1- يصرف التعويض المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام بواقع (60%) ستين في المائة من متوسط الأجور الشهرية الخاضعة للاشتراك عن كل شهر من الأشهر الثلاثة الأولى وبواقع (50%) خ
- Article 12
The Article sets a maximum of SAR 9,000 per month for the first three months and SAR 7,500 afterwards, and raises compensation to the job-search allowance if it falls below it.
1- يكون الحد الأعلى لمبلغ التعويض (9,000) تسعة آلاف ريال عن كل شهر من الأشهر الثلاثة الأولى، و(7,500) سبعة آلاف وخمسمائة ريال عن كل شهر يزيد على ذلك. 2- إذا قل
- Article 13
The Article sets the maximum payment period at 12 months, continuous or not, for each entitlement, and no more than 12 months within any 24 consecutive months.
تكون المدة القصوى لصرف التعويض اثني عشر شهراً متصلة أو متقطعة عن كل مرة من مرات الاستحقاق، على ألا تزيد هذه المدة عن اثني عشر شهراً خلال كل أربعة وعشرين شهراً م
- Article 19
The Article allows the beneficiary to combine unemployment compensation with specified social insurance compensations, such as the lump-sum compensation, annuities and family-member pensions.
يحق للمستفيد الجمع بين التعويض المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام وبين تعويضات نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية الآتية: 1 - التعويض المقطوع وتعويض الدفعة الواحدة المستحقة له ط
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.