On 6 August 2024, the Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Saudi Labor Law (the “Amendments”) which will come into force 180 days from publication of the Royal Decree in Umm Al Qura (the Official Gazette) which we expect within a fortnight.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development circulated proposed amendments to these provisions for public consultation in 2020, and again in 2021. With wide labor market input, and extensive benchmarking studies of other countries’ labor laws and global practices, the Amendments aim to further align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by creating a more attractive work environment for employees; enhancing job security; protecting both parties’ rights; developing human capital; and promoting training opportunities, among others.