Saudi Labor Law & Qiwa Portal Compliance
Navigate Saudi Labor Law with confidence. Manage contract authentication via Qiwa, working hours, overtime calculations, leave entitlements, and employee transfers in full compliance with MHRSD regulations.
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Labor Law Compliance Dashboard
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Key Employment Terms Under Saudi Labor Law
Key Employment Terms Under Saudi Labor Law
| Provision | Requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Working Hours | 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week | 6 hours/day during Ramadan for Muslims; Friday rest day mandatory |
| Overtime | 150% of hourly wage | Max 720 overtime hours/year; voluntary basis |
| Annual Leave | 21 days (first 5 years), 30 days (after 5 years) | Cannot be compensated in lieu during employment; carry-forward limited |
| Probation | Max 90 days | Extendable to 180 days with written agreement; leave days excluded |
| Notice Period | 60 days (monthly paid), 30 days (other) | Written notice required; compensation for non-compliance |
| Contract Authentication | Mandatory via Qiwa portal | All employment contracts must be digitally authenticated |
| Sick Leave | 120 days per year | 30 days full pay, 60 days 3/4 pay, 30 days unpaid |
Key Compliance Deadlines
Key Compliance Deadlines
| Obligation | Deadline | Platform | Non-Compliance Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract authentication | Within 7 days of hire | Qiwa Portal | SAR 5,000 fine per contract + potential visa restriction |
| Employee transfer processing | 15 days from request date | Qiwa Portal | Transfer auto-approved if not responded |
| Salary payment | Per contract terms (monthly standard) | Mudad WPS | Mudad non-compliance + potential Nitaqat downgrade |
| End-of-service payment | 1 week (termination) / 2 weeks (resignation) | Direct payment | Labor court claim + interest |
| Work injury report | Within 3 days of incident | GOSI Portal | SAR 10,000+ fine + criminal liability |
| Summer outdoor work ban | June 15 - September 15 (12:00-3:00 PM) | MHRSD inspection | SAR 3,000-10,000 per worker |
Understanding Saudi Labor Law & Qiwa
Saudi Labor Law Overview
Saudi Labor Law, codified in Royal Decree No. M/51 (dated 23/8/1426H) and its subsequent amendments, governs all private sector employment relationships in the Kingdom. The law covers employment contracts, wages, working hours, leave entitlements, workplace safety, termination procedures, and dispute resolution. It applies to all workers in the private sector, including non-Saudi employees, with certain exceptions for domestic workers, agricultural workers, and family members of the employer.
The Qiwa Platform
Qiwa (qiwa.sa) is MHRSD's digital platform for managing employment relationships in Saudi Arabia. Key services include: contract authentication (all new and renewed contracts must be digitally authenticated), employee transfer (processing internal and external employee movements), establishment management (updating company details, activity classifications, and authorized signatories), and dispute management (filing and tracking labor complaints). Since 2021, Qiwa has been mandatory for all private sector employers.
Working Hours and Overtime
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. During Ramadan, Muslim employees' working hours are reduced to 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week. Overtime is paid at 150% of the regular hourly rate (basic salary divided by 30 days divided by actual working hours). The annual overtime cap is 720 hours. Employees cannot be compelled to work overtime except in exceptional circumstances. Friday is the mandatory weekly rest day for all employees.
Leave Entitlements
Saudi Labor Law provides comprehensive leave entitlements: 21 days annual leave for the first 5 years of service increasing to 30 days thereafter, 120 days sick leave per year (30 days full pay, 60 days three-quarter pay, 30 days unpaid), 5 days marriage leave, 5 days bereavement leave (death of spouse or ascendant/descendant), 3 days for birth of a child, 10-15 days Hajj leave (once during employment for employees with 2+ years service), and exam leave for students. Maternity leave is 10 weeks (70 days) at full pay.
Labor Law Compliance Process with Kiework
Contract Management via Qiwa
Create Saudi Labor Law-compliant employment contracts, authenticate them through the Qiwa portal, manage renewals, and process amendments digitally.
Pre-built contract templates compliant with Royal Decree M/51, automated Qiwa authentication workflows, and renewal tracking with 30-day advance alerts.
Working Hours & Overtime Compliance
Track daily and weekly working hours, calculate overtime at 150% of hourly rate, enforce the 720-hour annual overtime cap, and manage Ramadan reduced hours.
Real-time attendance integration with automatic overtime calculation, annual cap enforcement, Ramadan schedule switching, and compliance alerts.
Leave & Absence Administration
Manage statutory leave entitlements (21/30 days annual, 120 days sick, maternity, paternity, Hajj, exam leave) and ensure employees take required annual leave.
Automated leave accrual engine, carry-forward rules, mandatory utilization tracking, and sick leave documentation workflows.
Employee Lifecycle on Qiwa
Process employee transfers, contract changes, salary modifications, and establishment management through the Qiwa portal with full audit trail.
Centralized employee lifecycle dashboard with Qiwa integration for transfers, contract updates, and establishment compliance monitoring.
Labor Law (Qiwa) FAQ
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Automate Labor Law (Qiwa) Compliance
Stop managing Saudi Labor Law & Qiwa Portal manually. Kiework automates calculations, filing deadlines, and compliance validation — so you never miss a deadline.