Arabic
Issued by Council of Ministers: Decision 524
Introduction
The National Policy for the Elimination of Forced Labor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses the commitment of the Kingdom to eliminating it, as article 28 of the Basic Law of Governance issued by Royal Order O/90 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [1 March 1992] provided that “the state shall provide work opportunities for all that are able for it, and shall enact the laws that protect employees and employers.” Pursuant to this commitment, laws and regulations have been issued that aim to protect rights and eliminate and criminalize forced labor, including:
- The Labor Law issued by Royal Decree D/51 dated 23 Sha’ban 1426 [27 September 2005] and its executive regulation issued by Ministerial Decision 70273 dated 11 Rabi Al-Thani 1440 [18 December 2018], which prohibits in article 20 the employer from taking any action that exerts pressure on the freedom of an employee to achieve any interest or point of view he adopts that is inconsistent with freedom of work, requires him in article 61 to refrain from subjecting an employee to forced labor or from withholding the wage of an employee or part of it without a judicial basis, and requires him to treat an employee with appropriate respect.
- The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Crimes Law issued by Royal Decree D/40 dated 21 Rajab 1430 [14 July 2009], which prohibits trafficking in a person in any form and which provides that the forms of trafficking in persons are coercing, threatening, defrauding, deceiving, or abducting a person; abusing authority over him; or exploiting his vulnerability.
- The Child Protection Law issued by Royal Decree D/14 dated 3 Safar 1436 [25 November 2014], which aims to protect a child from all forms of abuse and neglect and their manifestations, and which prohibits a number of practices, including employing a child before he reaches the age of 15, assigning him to a job that may harm his safety or physical or mental health, and exploiting him sexually or physically or exploiting him in criminal activity or begging.
- The Anti-Begging Law issued by Royal Decree D/20 dated 9 Safar 1443 [16 September 2021], which prohibits begging in all its forms and manifestations and imposes punishments for practicing it.
- The Law of Protection from Abuse issued by Royal Decree D/52 dated 15 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1434 [21 September 2013], which prohibits and imposes punishments for every form of exploitation, physical, mental, or sexual abuse, or threatening it.
- The Anti-Harassment Crime Law issued by Royal Decree D/96 dated 16 Ramadan 1439 [31 May 2018], which aims to combat the crime of harassment and prevent it from occurring, impose punishment on its perpetrators, protect the victim, and aggravate the punishment if a perpetrator has direct or indirect authority over the victim or if the crime occurred in the workplace.
- The Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law issued by Royal Decree D/39 dated 8 Rajab 1426 [13 August 2005], which aggravates the punishment if a perpetrator exploits someone under their care or someone he has actual authority over or uses a minor in this.
- The Regulation of Domestic Workers and Their Equivalent issued by Council of Ministers Decision 310 dated 7 Ramadan 1434 [15 July 2013], which requires fulfilling the rights and wages of a domestic worker and prohibits assigning him any dangerous work that threatens his health or physical safety or infringes his human dignity.
The Kingdom has also ratified international agreements aimed at eliminating forced labour, including:
- International Labour Organization Convention 29 concerning Forced Labour of 1930 approved by Royal Decree D/15 dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1398 [19 February 1978].
- International Labour Organization Convention 105 concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour of 1957 approved by Royal Decree D/15 dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1398 [19 February 1978].
– Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention 29 of 1930 approved by Royal Decree D/73 dated 26 Sha’ban 1442 [8 April 2021].
- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons approved by Royal Decree D/56 dated 11 Jumada Al-Thani 1428 [26 June 2007], supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 approved by Royal Decree D/20 dated 24 Rabi Al-Awwal 1425 [13 May 2004], which aims to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Royal Decree D/7 dated 16 Rabi Al-Thani 1416 [11 September 1995], which emphasises the rights of the child, including his protection from sexual and commercial exploitation and dangerous and harmful work, the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict ratified by Royal Decree D/38 dated 18 Rajab 1431 [30 June 2010], and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography approved by Royal Decree D/39 dated 18 Rajab 1431 [30 June 2010].
- International Labour Organization Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour of 1999 approved by Royal Decree D/3 dated 22 Muharram 1422 [16 April 2001] and Recommendation 190 supplementing its provisions.
- International Labour Organization Convention 95 concerning Protection of Wages of 1949 approved by Royal Decree D/10 dated 8 Muharram 1442 [27 August 2020].
- International Labour Organization Convention 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment of 1973 approved by Royal Decree D/37 dated 18 Jumada Al-Thani 1434 [28 April 2013].
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities approved by Royal Decree D/28 dated 22 Jumada Al-Awwal 1429 [27 May 2008].
- The Arab Charter on Human Rights approved by the Council of the League of Arab States in Tunis in 2004 approved by Royal Decree D/19 dated 27 Rabi Al-Awwal 1430 [24 March 2009], and which provides for the prohibition of indentured servitude, slavery, forced labor, trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution or sexual exploitation, and the exploitation of children in armed conflicts.
- The Arab Convention on Combating Transnational Organized Crime approved by Royal Decree 38 dated 10 Jumada Al-Thani 1433 [1 May 2012], which emphasises the prohibition of any threat or use of force or other forms of coercion or exploitation of a vulnerable state in order to use, transport, harbor, or receive persons for the purpose of exploiting them in all forms of sexual exploitation, indentured servitude, forced service, slavery, or practices similar to slavery or indentured servitude.
Policy Definitions:
The following terms—wherever they occur in this policy—have the meanings assigned to each of them:
Policy: The National Policy for the Elimination of Forced Labor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Trafficking in persons: The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a person for the purpose of exploitation.
Threat: A statement of intention to spread and instill fear in someone by exerting pressure on the will of a person and making him fear that harm may befall him or persons or objects related to him.
Victim: A person who has been forcibly subjected to any form of forced labour.
Policy Scope of Application:
The policy is implemented to eliminate forced labor that falls within the concept of forced labour provided in Convention 29 of 1930 concerning Forced Labour approved by Royal Decree D/15 dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1398 [19 February 1978].
Policy Objective and Guiding Principles:
1․ Policy Objective:
To take the necessary measures to eliminate forced labor, provide protection and support to the victim, and enhance access to courts and justice.
2․ Guiding Principles:
- Promoting decent working conditions for all, which respect basic human rights and the rights and dignity of employees, within the framework of a set of systems and standards that determine fair wages that guarantee a decent life and take into account the physical and mental safety of employees while performing their work.
- Adopting a comprehensive government approach that ensures coordination, cooperation, and integration among all stakeholders to eliminate forced labor, and harmonizing evidence-based government policies and interventions and actions and mechanisms taken to implement the policy, which is enhanced by resources allocated to data monitoring, evaluation, research, and collaboration.
- Establishing a victim-centred response as a fundamental pillar for developing and providing support, assistance, and care services designed around the needs of a victim, taking into account their age and gender, and reducing barriers that prevent them from accessing protection and care services.
- Non-discrimination that promotes the principle of equality, respect for human rights, and combatting discrimination by providing support, care, and protection services to the victim regardless of her age, gender, nationality, and social status.
Concept of Forced Labor:
Forced labor is defined—in accordance with International Labour Organization Convention 29 concerning Forced Labour of 1930 as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily…”, and the element of threat or coercion is represented in the practice of any direct or indirect means through an intermediary by terrorism, intimidation, or coercion to perform a certain work.
In light of the laws and regulations in force in the Kingdom, the concept of forced labor includes the exploitation of persons by forcing them into indentured servitude, forced labor or service, or forced begging.
Policy Pillars and Objectives:
The policy consists of four pillars:
First
Elimination of Forced Labor by Taking the Necessary Measures to Prevent and Protect Against It
The Kingdom seeks to take effective measures to prohibit forced labor and to protect human rights within the framework of policy purposes, without discrimination for victims of forced labor, as these measures aim to reduce the exposure of persons to forced labor, especially the groups most vulnerable to falling victim to it. This pillar includes the following objectives:
1․ Implementing obligations of the Kingdom under international agreements relating to the elimination of forced labor.
2․ Strengthening the legislative system by issuing or amending it to eliminate forced labor.
3․ Raising awareness of the dangers of forced labor at the community level.
4. Capacity building at the institutional and individual levels.
5․ Strengthening inspection and control methods in all sectors covered by the definition of forced labor contained in Convention 29 of 1930 concerning Forced Labour approved by Royal Decree D/15 dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1398 [19 February 1978].
6․ Strengthening the recruitment and employment laws, and establishing the principles of fair employment.
Second
Providing Protection, Care, and Support to Victims of Forced Labor
The Kingdom seeks to take effective measures to provide protection, care, and support to victims of forced labor, including legal, social, and economic aspects, without discrimination against victims of forced labor, in a manner that enables them to recover from the physical and mental effects of being subjected to forms and practices of forced labor, stopping abuse of them again, and encouraging them to cooperate with the competent authorities and participate in taking legal action against their exploiters. This pillar includes the following objectives:
1․ Strengthening efforts to accurately identify victims and provide immediate assistance to them.
2․ Providing safe shelter, care, and support services according to the needs of a victim without discrimination and taking into account their gender.
3․ Supporting and facilitating the rehabilitation and integration of victims and alleviating the negative effects of forced labor.
Third
Enhancing Access to Courts and Justice
The Kingdom stresses the importance of enhancing the effectiveness of the enforcement of laws and the prosecution system, aggravating punishments, protecting the rights of victims and their access to justice and redress, and imposing punishments on those who violate the legal provisions related to the prohibition of forced labor. This pillar includes the following objectives:
1․ Enabling victims and those affected by forced labor practices to access justice, redress, and compensation.
2․ Strengthening the effectiveness of law enforcement and ensuring a strict system of criminal sanctions and evidence-based investigations to prosecute perpetrators and the principle of non-criminalization of victims.
3․ Improving the frameworks for cooperation in investigation operations between entities within the Kingdom and at the regional and international levels.
4․ Imposing and aggravating criminal punishments and deterrent violations on perpetrators of forced labor crimes and violations.
Fourth
Building Partnerships and Enhancing Cooperation
The Kingdom seeks to build partnerships and enhance cooperation at the national, regional, and international levels, in a way that enhances and supports the participation of civil society and cooperation between government sectors and the participation of the private sector and the non-profit sector, which was established by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, through the National Transformation Program as a fundamental pillar in supporting the concerted efforts of a number of parties—each according to its competence—to eliminate forced labor in the Kingdom, through integration in developing preventive and precautionary plans and implementing initiatives resulting from the policy. This pillar includes the following objectives:
1․ Building partnerships and cooperation at all levels within the Kingdom.
2․ Strengthening partnership building and international cooperation in terms of exchanging knowledge, expertise, and information.
3․ Enhancing cooperation and supporting the role of civil society and the non-profit sector to contribute effectively to efforts to eliminate forced labor.
The entity responsible for following up on the implementation of the policy:
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is the entity responsible for implementing the policy, through executive plans related to government entities—each according to its competence—to include activities related to achieving the policy objectives, in a manner consistent with existing laws, regulations, and procedures.
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5067 issued on 31 January 2025.
