[Saudi Arabia] Amendment to labour law lets expats change jobs more freely

Expatriate workers are now allowed to transfer their services to another employer without waiting for the expiration of at least one year period after their arrival in Saudi Arabia provided certain conditions are fulfilled, Zawya reports.

An amendment to Saudi labour law to this effect has been approved by the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, according to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

The amended regulations reportedly state that the consent of the current employer should be obtained for the transfer, which should not be in violation of the conditions prescribed in the Nitaqat Saudization program for the private sector.

The new regulation is part of the three amendments approved by Minister Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi in the legal articles of the executive regulations of the Labour Law.

Previously there was a provision in the labour law stating that an expatriate worker can transfer their services to another employer only after spending at least 12 months with the current employer from the date of their entry into the Kingdom. The minister also approved amendments to two other articles related to the transfer of service of expatriate workers.

According to the new amendments, an expatriate worker can transfer their services to another employer without stipulating the specific period in the event of the approval of the current employer and within the provisions of the Nitaqat stimulus programme for establishments to Saudize jobs.

The second amendment was made in paragraph 7 of item 2 of Article 14 and says that “the expatriate worker has the right to transfer his services to another employer upon the expiry of the period of the documented work contract without the consent of the current employer.”

The third amendment added paragraph no. 21 to item 2 of Article 14, it reads, “With regard to the provisions of Article 77 of the Labour Law, the expatriate worker may transfer his service to another employer without requiring the approval of the current employer when conditions are met...”

The stipulated conditions are: 

* the worker shall have spent 12 months with the current employer from the date of his entry into the Kingdom; 

* the worker has to notify the current employer about the transfer within a period of no less than 90 days before the end of the contractual relationship; 

* unless the two parties agree otherwise.

"This decision cancels all previous decisions inconsistent with it,” the amendment said.

Expatriate workers are now allowed to transfer their services to another employer without waiting for the expiration of at least one year period after their arrival in Saudi Arabia provided certain conditions are fulfilled, Zawya reports.

An amendment to Saudi labour law to this effect has been approved by the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, according to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

The amended regulations reportedly state that the consent of the current employer should be obtained for the transfer, which should not be in violation of the conditions prescribed in the Nitaqat Saudization program for the private sector.

The new regulation is part of the three amendments approved by Minister Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi in the legal articles of the executive regulations of the Labour Law.

Previously there was a provision in the labour law stating that an expatriate worker can transfer their services to another employer only after spending at least 12 months with the current employer from the date of their entry into the Kingdom. The minister also approved amendments to two other articles related to the transfer of service of expatriate workers.

According to the new amendments, an expatriate worker can transfer their services to another employer without stipulating the specific period in the event of the approval of the current employer and within the provisions of the Nitaqat stimulus programme for establishments to Saudize jobs.

The second amendment was made in paragraph 7 of item 2 of Article 14 and says that “the expatriate worker has the right to transfer his services to another employer upon the expiry of the period of the documented work contract without the consent of the current employer.”

The third amendment added paragraph no. 21 to item 2 of Article 14, it reads, “With regard to the provisions of Article 77 of the Labour Law, the expatriate worker may transfer his service to another employer without requiring the approval of the current employer when conditions are met...”

The stipulated conditions are: 

* the worker shall have spent 12 months with the current employer from the date of his entry into the Kingdom; 

* the worker has to notify the current employer about the transfer within a period of no less than 90 days before the end of the contractual relationship; 

* unless the two parties agree otherwise.

"This decision cancels all previous decisions inconsistent with it,” the amendment said.