Saudi Arabia has clarified employment rules for foreign workers, including notice periods, termination conditions and circumstances in which employees may leave their jobs immediately while retaining their legal entitlements.
The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment has highlighted important protections available to Pakistani workers employed in Saudi Arabia. The guidance covers situations involving unpaid wages, changes to contractual duties and unsafe or harmful working conditions.
Saudi Arabia Employment Rules on Contract Termination
Under Saudi employment rules, a work contract can end when its agreed term expires. Employment may also end if a business permanently closes or if an employee commits certain serious violations.
These violations can include fraud, physical assault, revealing confidential information and repeatedly refusing to carry out assigned duties.
However, employers cannot simply dismiss workers without a valid legal reason. If an employer or sponsor ends an employment contract unlawfully, the affected employee may qualify for compensation under applicable rules.
Notice Period for Foreign Workers
The Bureau has also explained the notice requirements that apply when employees want to terminate their contracts.
Workers who receive a monthly salary generally need to provide 60 days’ notice before leaving their employment. For other workers, the notice period is 30 days, according to the guidance issued by the Bureau.
Employees should therefore check the terms of their individual contracts before submitting a resignation or leaving their jobs.
When Can a Worker Leave Immediately?
Saudi Arabia’s employment protections also recognize situations in which a worker may have grounds to leave employment immediately while maintaining certain legal rights and entitlements.
These circumstances can include an employer or sponsor failing to pay wages. They may also apply when an employer assigns duties that significantly differ from those agreed upon in the employment contract.
Workers may also have protections when working conditions threaten their dignity or safety. Circumstances that could seriously affect an employee’s physical or emotional well-being may also be relevant.
Such cases can involve important legal considerations, so workers should keep evidence of unpaid wages, contract violations or unsafe conditions and seek appropriate official advice before taking action.
Advice for Pakistani Workers in Saudi Arabia
The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment has urged Pakistani citizens working in Saudi Arabia to understand their employment contracts and remain aware of their legal protections.
Foreign workers should keep copies of their employment contracts and other important employment records. Understanding notice requirements and termination conditions can help workers make informed decisions if a dispute arises.
The guidance also highlights the importance of knowing the difference between an ordinary resignation and circumstances that may give a worker stronger legal grounds to leave employment.
