If you work in Saudi Arabia, it helps to know what the law expects from you — not just what your employer can and cannot do, but what your own responsibilities are.
The Saudi Labor Law clearly outlines the duties every worker must follow. These rules apply to all employees working in the Kingdom, regardless of nationality or industry.
Core Duties Every Worker Must Follow
1. Follow Employer Instructions — Within Legal Limits
You are required to carry out your work according to standard trade practices and your employer’s instructions. However, there is an important condition: those instructions must not conflict with your employment contract, Saudi law, or basic ethical standards.
Your employer also cannot give you instructions that put you at unnecessary risk or danger. (Article 65)
2. Take Care of Workplace Equipment and Materials
Any machinery, tools, supplies, or raw materials given to you by your employer must be handled with proper care. If there are unused materials at the end of a task or project, you are required to return them. (Article 65)
3. Maintain Good Conduct at Work
The law requires all workers to maintain proper behaviour and ethical standards during working hours and in the workplace. This covers how you treat colleagues, supervisors, and anyone else you deal with on the job. (Article 65)
4. Help During Emergencies — Without Expecting Extra Pay
If a disaster or hazard threatens the workplace or the people in it, you are required to assist — even if it falls outside your normal duties. The law is clear that you cannot make this help conditional on receiving additional payment. (Article 65)
5. Undergo Medical Examinations When Required
Your employer has the right to ask you to complete medical examinations before starting work or during your employment. These checks are to confirm you are free from occupational illnesses or communicable diseases. (Article 65)
6. Protect Your Employer’s Confidential Information
This is a serious obligation. You must keep confidential any technical, commercial, or industrial secrets related to your work or workplace — including anything you were involved in producing, directly or indirectly.
Disclosing such information, especially if it could damage your employer’s interests, is a violation of the Labor Law. (Article 65)
Rules About Working During Leave
No Working for Another Employer While on Leave
If you are on any form of leave recognised under the Saudi Labor Law — whether annual leave, sick leave, or other approved leave — you are not permitted to work for another employer during that period. (Article 118)
Doing so can have serious consequences, including termination with cause.
Health and Safety Duties
Saudi Labor Law places specific health and safety responsibilities on workers, not just employers. These are covered under Article 124.
Use Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
If your job requires protective gear — helmets, gloves, safety shoes, masks, or anything else — you are legally required to use and maintain that equipment properly. (Article 124)
Follow Health and Safety Instructions
Any instructions put in place to protect your health against injuries or workplace diseases must be followed. Ignoring safety rules is not just a disciplinary issue — it is a breach of the Labor Law. (Article 124)
Do Not Damage or Misuse Safety Devices
You must not take any action — or fail to take action — that could result in safety equipment being misused, damaged, or rendered ineffective. This protects both you and your fellow workers. (Article 124)
What Happens If a Worker Violates These Duties?
Failing to meet these obligations can expose a worker to disciplinary action under the Saudi Labor Law, including formal warnings, salary deductions, or — in serious cases — termination without end-of-service benefits.
If you are facing a workplace dispute, you can raise a complaint through the Qiwa platform (qiwa.sa) or visit the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) for support.
Know Your Rights Too
Understanding your duties as an employee is important — but so is knowing your rights. Saudi Labor Law also protects workers from unfair treatment, unpaid wages, unsafe conditions, and unlawful termination.
If your employer is not fulfilling their side of the contract, platforms like Absher, Qiwa, and Mudad exist to help you resolve issues formally and officially.
For the latest updates to Saudi Labor Law, always refer to the official HRSD website at hrsd.gov.sa or the Saudi Labor Law portal.