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Royal Decree

Royal Decree D/3/21 Approving the Social Insurance Law

D/3/21

Arabic

With the help of Allah the Almighty

We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,

the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

based on article 70 of the Basic Law of Governance issued by Royal Order O/90 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [2 March 1992],

based on article 20 of the Law of the Council of Ministers issued by Royal Order O/13 dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1414 [21 August 1993],

based on article 18 of the Law of the Shura Council issued by Royal Order O/91 dated 27 Rajab 1412 [1 February 1992],

after perusal of Shura Council Decision 36/383 dated 26 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1445 [2 June 2024],

and after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 1022 dated 26 Dhu Al-Hijja 1445 [3 June 2024],

have decreed as follows

First

The Social Insurance Law is hereby approved in the form attached.

Second

The provisions of the law referred to in clause First of this decree do not apply to the following two categories:

1. Contributors who have contribution periods prior to the entry into force of the law for which they have not been compensated.

The periods of contribution in the field of the implementation of paragraph 1 of this clause mean the periods of contribution calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Pension Law issued by Royal Decree D/41 dated 29 Rajab 1393 [27 August 1973], or the Social Insurance Law issued by Royal Decree D/33 dated 3 Ramadan 1421 [29 November 2000], or both of them. This extends to the periods deemed as served in one of these two laws.

2. Owners of pensions due to contributors in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Pension Law or the Social Insurance Law before the entry into force of the law referred to in clause First of this decree.

Third

The application of the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—to those covered by its provisions must be as follows:

1. The contribution percentages of the branch of pensions stipulated in article 15 of the law are applied gradually until they reach 22% of the wage or salary subject to contribution, as follows:

(a) Contributions are determined within twelve months from the effective date of the law at a rate of 18%.

(b) Contributions are determined from the month following the lapse of twelve months from the effective date of the law at a rate of 19%.

(c) Contributions are determined from the month following the lapse of twenty-four months from the effective date of the law at a rate of 20%.

(d) Contributions are determined from the month following the lapse of thirty-six months from the effective date of the law at a rate of 21%.

(e) Contributions are determined from the month following the lapse of forty-eight months from the effective date of the law at a rate of 22%.

2. The employer bears 50% and the contributor bears 50% of the contributions referred to in paragraph 1 of this clause, in respect of compulsory contributions.

3. The provisions stipulated in paragraph 1 of this clause apply to a contribution made on a voluntary basis, provided that it is borne in full by the contributor.

4. A decision by the Council of Ministers—based on a proposal of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance—determines the date of application of the provisions of the branch of occupational hazards and additional compensation to employees. In the event that the employee dies or is dismissed from work—during the period following the entry into force of the law and preceding the date specified in the aforementioned decision of the Council of Ministers—due to his inability to work definitively and the death or disability resulted from work and during the performance of work, his entitlement is determined in accordance with the provisions of article 21 of the Civil Pension Law, and without prejudice to the proving of his disability by the medical committees of the General Organization for Social Insurance stipulated in article 50 of the law referred to in clause First of this decree.

5. Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs of this clause, the application of the branches of social insurance stipulated in article 3 of the law, referred to in clause First of this decision, must be in stages determined by a decision by the board of directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance.

Fourth

The provisions contained in the Social Insurance Law issued by Royal Decree D/33 dated 3 Ramadan 1421 [29 November 2000], the Civil Pension Law issued by Royal Decree D/41 dated 29 Rajab 1393 [27 August 1973], and the Unemployment Insurance Law issued by Royal Decree D/18 dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1435 [13 January 2014] continue to apply to the two categories referred to in clause Second of this decree.

Fifth

As an exception to the provision of clause Fourth of this decree, contributors—with regard to pensions—who have contribution periods prior to the entry into force of the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—who have not been compensated for them, have not reached 240 months, and have not reached 50 Hijri years on the effective date of the law, will be treated as follows:

1. The contributor who has not reached the age of twenty-nine Gregorian years on the effective date of the law, has a legal age for entitlement to a pension of sixty-five Gregorian years.

2. The contributor who reaches the age of twenty-nine Gregorian years or more on the effective date of the law, has a legal age for entitlement to a pension in accordance with the following table:

Age in accordance with the Gregorian calendar on the effective date of the law Legal age in accordance with the Gregorian calendar for the purpose of obtaining a pension
Twenty-nine years and over, and less than thirty years Sixty-four years and eight months
Thirty years and over, and less than thirty-one years Sixty-four years and four months
Thirty-one years and over, and less than thirty-two years Sixty-four years
Thirty-two years and over, and less than thirty-three years Sixty-three years and eight months
Thirty-three years and over, and less than thirty-four years Sixty-three years and four months
Thirty-four years and over, and less than thirty-five years Sixty-three years
Thirty-five years and over, and less than thirty-six years Sixty-two years and eight months
Thirty-six years and over, and less than thirty-seven years Sixty-two years and four months
Thirty-seven years and over, and less than thirty-eight years Sixty-two years
Thirty-eight years and over, and less than thirty-nine years Sixty-one years and eight months
Thirty-nine years and over, and less than forty years Sixty-one years and four months
Forty years and over, and less than forty-one years Sixty-one years
Forty-one years and over, and less than forty-two years Sixty years and eight months
Forty-two years and over, and less than forty-three years Sixty years and four months
Forty-three years and over, and less than forty-four years Sixty years
Forty-four years and over, and less than forty-five years Fifty-nine years and eight months
Forty-five years and over, and less than forty-six years Fifty-nine years and four months
Forty-six years and over, and less than forty-seven years Fifty-nine years
Forty-seven years and over, and less than forty-eight years Fifty-eight years and eight months
Forty-eight years and over, and less than forty-eight years and six months Fifty-eight years and four months

3. The contributor whose contribution periods have not reached on the effective date of the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—180 months, is entitled to a pension before reaching the legal age if his contribution periods reach 360 subscription months.

4. The contributor whose contribution periods have reached the effective date of the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—180 months or more, is entitled to obtain a pension before reaching the legal age in accordance with the following table:

Contribution periods upon entry into force of the law Eligible contribution periods for pension entitlement
From 180 months to 191 months 348 months
From 192 months to 203 months 336 months
From 204 months to 215 months 324 months
From 216 months to 227 months 312 months
From 228 months to 239 months 300 (months)

5. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this clause, the contribution periods that have not been compensated for are treated in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Pension Law and Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree.

For the purposes of applying this clause, the contributor who reaches the age of forty-eight years and six months in accordance with the Gregorian calendar is deemed to have reached the age of fifty Hijri years.

Sixth

As an exception to the provision of clause Fourth of this decree, the application of the provisions of the branch of occupational hazards contained in the Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree is as follows:

1. Applying the maternity compensation stipulated in articles 41 and 42 of the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—to the contributors subject to the provisions of the branch of occupational hazards of the Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree, taking into account that the calculation of the eligible contribution period for the entitlement begins from the effective date of the law referred to in clause First of this decree.

2. Cancelling the maximum limit for the amount of lump sum compensation in the cases of total and partial disability stipulated in articles 32 and 36 of the Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree.

3. The age after which the lump sum compensation mentioned in article 32 of the Social Insurance Law—referred to in clause Fourth of this decree—must be reduced is in accordance with the same age mentioned in paragraph 3 of article 35 of the law referred to in clause First of this decree.

Seventh

The Board of Directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance may develop voluntary savings programs—in coordination with the relevant entities—for the contributors to whom the provisions of the Civil Pension Law and Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree apply.

Eighth

The Board of Directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance may add privileges for the contributor whose contribution period exceeds 100% of the salary or the average wages on which the pension is calculated in accordance with the provisions of article 19 of the Civil Pension Law and article 38 of the Social Insurance Law referred to in clause Fourth of this decree.

Ninth

The Board of Directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance may merge the accounts of the branches of the Social Insurance Law and Unemployment Insurance Law and the account of the Civil Pension Law Fund—referred to in clause Fourth of this decree—or some of them as it deems appropriate.

Tenth

Clauses Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth of this decree are effective from the effective date of the law referred to in clause First of this decree.

Eleventh

His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, the ministers, and the heads of independent concerned authorities—each within their area of competence—shall implement this decree of Ours.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud

Issued on: 26 Dhu Al-Hijja 1445
Corresponding to: 2 July 2024

Published in Umm Al-Qura 5038 issued on 13 July 2024.