Article 3 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
المادة 3 من نظام التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بلغ المشترك الذي على رأس العمل سن الستين يوقف اشتراكه في النظام.
3- مع مراعاة الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة، يخضع لهذا النظام من يخضع إلزامياً لفرع المعاشات بموجب نظام التأمينات 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 3 explained in plain English
This article sets the scope of the Law's application as to persons, and contains three rules:
- Compulsory application to Saudi workers: the Law applies to all of them without any discrimination between men and women, provided that the worker's age when the Law begins to apply to them is under 59. Someone who has reached this age or passed it when the Law begins to apply to them does not fall within this compulsory application.
- Stopping contributions at 60: if a subscriber who is still working reaches age 60, their subscription to the Law is stopped.
- Link to the pensions branch: subject to the two preceding rules, anyone who is compulsorily subject to the pensions branch under the Social Insurance Law is subject to this Law.
The article complements Article 2, which makes this insurance a branch of social insurance, and Article 4, which requires employers to apply the Law and the Regulations and refers the way of registering with the Organization to the Regulations.
The definition of subscriber in Article 1 as anyone subject to the Law, male or female, confirms equality between the sexes in coverage. Whether a particular person is subject to the pensions branch is a matter for the Social Insurance Law, and anyone who needs an opinion on their situation should consult a lawyer specializing in social insurance.
Practical example
Sarah is a Saudi employee at a company in Jeddah, who was 30 when the Law began to apply to her and who is subject to the pensions branch, so the Law covers her compulsorily just as it covers her male colleagues. Her colleague Khaled, who works at the same company, reached 60 while still working, so his subscription to the Law is stopped.
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 3 of the Saudi Unemployment Insurance Law
Does unemployment insurance cover working women?
Yes. The Law applies to all Saudi workers without any discrimination of sex.
What is the age condition for being subject to the Law?
That the worker's age when the Law begins to apply to them is under 59.
What happens to a worker's subscription when they reach 60?
If a subscriber who is still working reaches age 60, their subscription to the Law is stopped.
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 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 17
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.
تحدد سن المشترك بشهادة ميلاده أو بالشهادة التي تصدرها الجهة المختصة نظاماً.
- 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.