Resignation during probation period.
My contract states that either party can freely terminate the contract as long as 2 months notice is given by providing it in writing to the other party. Nothing about it having to be accepted or not.
The labour laws do state that termination should be mutually agreed upon by both parties, but my contract does not have that wording.
What should I do?
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Either party i.e. you or the employer can terminate employment during the probation period (Which is what you are in right now) without any notice
However if it is initiated by you, the employer can then choose to have you reimburse all the expenses that they incurred in bringing you here i.e. visa cost, recruitment fees, airplane ticket etc.聽 So if I had to guess, from their side, it is not about accepting or not accepting - they are just preparing the ground for you to pay them before they issue a final exit for you.
This is not Bahrain or the UAE where labor laws clearly prohibit the company from charging the employee with such expenses irrespective of the nature of the exit.聽 聽Hence this is why, I advise everyone who is seeking employment in KSA to do their due diligence thoroughly because later on, the processes to get your rights or stay out of trouble are heavily skewed in favor of the employer and not the employee.
Now coming to the point of recruitment costs, nothing is clearly written and this is not unique for Saudi.聽 A lot of things are not clearly specified but employers play around the law to their advantage.聽 Also practice and precedent play their part.
Let me give you a scenario; employer chooses not to give you final exit, draws out the time period beyond probation period and then you are the one who is seen to be requesting early termination of contract.聽 If it is a fixed term contract, you are on the hook for the entire balance period remaining in the contract as now, you wanting to leave early, links to, not a "valid" reason for terminating contract and compensation becomes due to the employer as per article 74, 75 etc.聽 聽Or even more easily, they can mark you as "Huroob" or runaway and really mess with your life - if the police catches you during this status, you get arrested, jailed, deported and banned lifetime.聽 聽The problem is that you are stuck here until you reach an agreement with them (and they know that very well so they can continue to push you around) or follow another route - continue reading.
What I said about Bahrain and UAE is very important.聽 In those countries, you don't need an employer's permission to leave the country (No such thing as exit re-entry or final exit visa).聽 So you could just tender resignation, register it with the appropriate authorities (e.g. LMRA in Bahrain - again a difference from Saudi as there is an intermediate authority before courts to regulate unscrupulous employers in events such as the one you are in) and just leave.聽 Any lawsuit from the employer will fail as your rights will be upheld by the respective authorities.聽 But in Saudi, you need permission to leave.聽 The employer can continue refusing to issue you a final exit visa and the only option you have is to go to labor court which is a convoluted time consuming process and will cost you lawyer fees etc.聽 Even when the decision comes down in your favor, the employer can still mess with you and delay it further.
I say once again, this is NOT the west.聽 Laws exist but interpretation by employers is subject to discretion at times and the enforcement is complex, time consuming and costly with the burden dumped on the plaintiff.聽 聽The suffering is ALSO with the plaintiff i.e. till the time you get your rights, the employer can make life a living hell for you and at the end of the day, you don't get punitive damages awarded to you and neither do they get slapped with a massive penalty.聽 So they can mess with you all they want at a relatively low cost to them but at a high cost to you (time, money, frustration etc).
Finally when you end up winning, you have been stuck in a limbo for months or even more while spending money out of pocket.聽 聽This is why, a lot of people, just settle with the employer and leave to avoid causing problems.聽
If you still want to fight after reading all of this, go NOW to a lawyer and file a case ASAP while you are still in probation.聽 Don't waste time.
A worker shall incur the costs of returning to his home country if he is unfit for work or if he wishes to return to his home country without a legitimate reason.
This seems to only specify the costs of returning back home (ie air tickets). I don't see anything about costs related to iqama, inbound flights, accommodation, transport etc.
Now my concern is should I trust the contract that I made with the company and the amendment of the Saudi Labor Law or should I prepare myself for any penalties my company might charge me upon my resignation? If in any case they will ask me to pay for penalties, will that include my plane ticket going here, the processing of my iqama and also my visa? Take note that upon entering here I already paid for processing fee and placement fee(which was equivalent to my 1 month salary here in saudi) to my agency back in the Philippines
den evaldez wrote:Good day to all! I just want to ask for help. I?m on my 2nd month probation period and I am planning to resign. Based on the contract that I signed I am allowed to terminate the agreement on a 7 days notice if I am still under 90 days trial period. It also stated that if the contract is terminated under this period the employee is not entitled to any compensation or end of service award, which is totally fine with me. In addition to that, according to the article 54 of Saudi Labor Law no party is entitled to any compensation if the contract is terminated during probationary period. And based on my research, as per article 40 of Saudi Labor Law, if the contract will be terminated by the employee under probation he/she will incur the cost of processing the final exit fee and air fare.
Now my concern is should I trust the contract that I made with the company and the amendment of the Saudi Labor Law or should I prepare myself for any penalties my company might charge me upon my resignation? If in any case they will ask me to pay for penalties, will that include my plane ticket going here, the processing of my iqama and also my visa? Take note that upon entering here I already paid for processing fee and placement fee(which was equivalent to my 1 month salary here in saudi) to my agency back in the Philippines
Did they give you iqama ?
Because your work visa is valid for 90 days upon arrival.
is the work really that difficult??
In the termination of contract during probationary period, if the employer decided to terminate the contract, they mist pay you 1 full month salary .. On the other hand, if you will terminate the contract. then you have to pay the cost for processing your iqama...
arnoldmasiga wrote:There is no law in place stating you pay your employer when terminating during probation period.you and your employer can terminate with no attachments.keep In mind probation period is an evaluation to check if you can work not just for employer but for you as well if you can handle the work or not.
Don't say that there is no law thing.
If they had pay for your iqama then, they can charge you and that's their right.
No one would pay 12k SAR for someone's iqama and then just let him/her go without any charge.
But yes, if the company didn't pay for the iqama renewal then, you are good to go without paying anything.
Reason : please post in english only on this english speaking forum
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct
If i say let me go
Then employer say pay 18000 riyal
Iqama + transfer fee
But my sallry in agreement 8500 riyal and 2month already worked .
But employer say i will not give you sallry and cut 18000 riyal then he give sallry.
Also in agreement have 5days per week work
But employer take 6 days per week work
I have a recording that they say i will cut your 2 month sallry for iqama and transfer .
In agreement mension cleary iqama and transfer fee pay by employer but they not follow agreement.
Can i go exit as per article 40 ?
Can i transfer without paying 18000聽 聽because my 2 month sallry almost may be 16000riyal but they not give .
They worked in aramco and not follow aramco rule .
I am in risk may be i will blocklisted from aramco because they work on without work permit .no have operator aramco licence.no firewatch ,no flageman .
dileep8083 wrote:I am also in probation period but employer not follow agreement .
If i say let me go
Then employer say pay 18000 riyal
Iqama + transfer fee
But my sallry in agreement 8500 riyal and 2month already worked .
But employer say i will not give you sallry and cut 18000 riyal then he give sallry.
Also in agreement have 5days per week work
But employer take 6 days per week work
I have a recording that they say i will cut your 2 month sallry for iqama and transfer .
In agreement mension cleary iqama and transfer fee pay by employer but they not follow agreement.
Can i go exit as per article 40 ?
Can i transfer without paying 18000聽 聽because my 2 month sallry almost may be 16000riyal but they not give .
They worked in aramco and not follow aramco rule .
I am in risk may be i will blocklisted from aramco because they work on without work permit .no have operator aramco licence.no firewatch ,no flageman .
Why don't you guys get it.
Why would someone pay all that money for you and then let you go without any charge?
He has the authority to cut at least two months salary or recover the amount from you.
If you want to leave in probation period then you have to pay them.
That's the law.
But if anyone wants to cut your salary for transfer or iqama and asked you to continue the job, that's just illegal.
So, if your employer wants to cut that amount while you are working with him, tell him that you will go to Labour office.
My suggestion?
Pay him that amount and get the transfer.
Or
Find another company who is willing to pay something for you and get the transfer.
He can deny article 40.
To lay down the background, I transferred to this company 2 months ago through sponsorship transfer, now I want to quit and not continue after my probation period. They have not issued me my new iqama and insurance yet.
As per Saudi law, if an employee terminates the contract during probation, he will either go for exit shouldering all expenses or ask for a sponsorship transfer.
My questions are, what is the best way to do for me to transfer without any problem?
And what is my recourse if my employer will not approve my transfer?
Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi .. i have joined a company in KSA jeddah 2 weeks ago and i already feel like going back coz of various reason. My issue is that the contract only give authority to employer to terminate the contract during the probation period. But employee does not have this privilege. Secondly it say if the contract is broken by me i have to pay 3 months salary.Now i am confused if i resign, will they ask me to pay 3 months salary? Guys please help me and guide what to do in this situation.Thanks- @Abdul_Rehman123
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