Saudi Arabia Mandates Employers To Grant At Least 10-Day Paid Leave To First-Time Hajj Pilgrims

Employees working night and day and earning every paid leave know the fear and pain of applying for a long holiday. And when it comes to applying for Hajj or Umrah, we know how many days of work need to be planned or adjusted in advance. But not anymore. The Saudi Arabian government has made a mandatory rule for all employers to grant a 10-day leave to their employees for the Hajj. Here’s the catch! 

Saudi: 10-Day Mandate Leave For Employee To Perform Hajj

The Saudi Government understand the religious duties every citizen needs to perform. Hence, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has made it compulsory to provide a minimum of 10 days ‘ leave to employees who are performing hajj for the first time. This move was brought in to relieve employees to from workplace stress while performing Hajj. The leave application would be inclusive of the Eid Al-Adha holiday. 

Who Will Be Eligible?

Here are a few requirements to be eligible for this mandate leave policy in Saudi Arabia:

1. The employee must have been working with the current employer for at least 2 years.
2. Leave granted would be applicable only for the first-time pilgrim experience.
3. Not less than 10 or more than 15 days leave would be sanctioned

This law helps employees use this grant once in their life of service to perform the religious process if they haven’t previously. 

Also Read: Saudi Arabia Announces SAR 20,000 Fine For Hajj Pilgrims Without Permit

Employer’s Rights To Provide Holidays To The Eligible Employee For Hajj

Not just employees, but the employer of the organisation has also been granted some benefits. To start with, an employer decides the number of holidays to be provided to the eligible employee. The leaves would be adjusted according to the work requirements. This contract relation ensures a fair practice between the employer and employee in Saudi Arabia.

This labour law will make a perfect future practice of performing religious rituals by corporate workers without the backlog and stress of work. Saudi Arabia has carefully thought of implementing this mandate for the work-life balance of employees in the kingdom. We hope other countries to get inspired by this law.

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