[Saudi Arabia] Amendments to labour law on hazardous jobs for women

Last week Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved two amendments in the labour law as it relates to women’s work in hazardous jobs and at night, Saudi Gazette reports.

Sources reportedly told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the amendments pertained to abolishing Articles 149 and 150 of the Labor Law related to the prohibition of employment of women in some dangerous occupations and some period of time during the night.

According to Saudi Gazette reporting, Article 149 states that it is forbidden to employ women in dangerous and harmful occupations and jobs and that the minister specifies the occupations and jobs considered dangerous or harmful and/or those that would expose women to specific dangers or harms so as to prohibit their work in such jobs or restrict them under special conditions.

Article 150 reportedly states that women shall not be employed in a period of time during the night that is not less than 11 consecutive hours, except in cases in which a decision is issued by the minister. 

Sources clarified that the new amendments included the addition of an article (131) which stipulates that the minister determines - with his own decision - the professions that are considered dangerous or harmful or those that would expose the worker to extraordinary dangers or damages.

The minister determines the categories, which are prohibited permanently or temporarily from employing women or allowed to employ them under special conditions.

These conditions include the extent of the need to specify working periods for any of these groups, in accordance with the Kingdom’s relevant commitments as per the international agreements.

Last week Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved two amendments in the labour law as it relates to women’s work in hazardous jobs and at night, Saudi Gazette reports.

Sources reportedly told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the amendments pertained to abolishing Articles 149 and 150 of the Labor Law related to the prohibition of employment of women in some dangerous occupations and some period of time during the night.

According to Saudi Gazette reporting, Article 149 states that it is forbidden to employ women in dangerous and harmful occupations and jobs and that the minister specifies the occupations and jobs considered dangerous or harmful and/or those that would expose women to specific dangers or harms so as to prohibit their work in such jobs or restrict them under special conditions.

Article 150 reportedly states that women shall not be employed in a period of time during the night that is not less than 11 consecutive hours, except in cases in which a decision is issued by the minister. 

Sources clarified that the new amendments included the addition of an article (131) which stipulates that the minister determines - with his own decision - the professions that are considered dangerous or harmful or those that would expose the worker to extraordinary dangers or damages.

The minister determines the categories, which are prohibited permanently or temporarily from employing women or allowed to employ them under special conditions.

These conditions include the extent of the need to specify working periods for any of these groups, in accordance with the Kingdom’s relevant commitments as per the international agreements.