International Newsletter

Saudi Arabia Issues Resolution With Equal Pay Rules Among Changes Applicable to the Employment of Women

June 8, 2020
Saudi Arabia

Employment law as it relates to women continued to be an area of focus for the government in 2019 with the issuance of Ministerial Resolution No. (39860), which sets out a number of rules. Key among these are the following:

  • Defining night shift work in terms of its hours (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) and the type of work that can be undertaken (e.g., health or charitable work, the media, etc.)
  • Making it unlawful to treat women differently than men in terms of paying for work of equal value
  • Requiring women to wear modest attire
  • Making employers directly responsible for creating a suitable working environment for women
  • Prohibiting privacy between men and women
  • Prohibiting women from working in establishments designated for men only, and vice versa

Comment

Employers may want to conduct a review of their workplace policies and practices to ensure that they are compliant with Resolution No. (39860).

Written by Zahir Qayum of Al Tamimi & Co. and Roger James of Ogletree Deakins

© 2020 Al Tamimi & Co. and Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.