Saudi set private sector work time at 40 hours a week

Saudi Arabia’s appointed parliament approved a new law setting weekly work time for private sector employees at a maximum 40 hours.

Newspapers said the new rule endorsed by Shura is intended to attract Saudis to private sector jobs on the grounds they are scared off by the long work hours.

The new rule cuts work time from 45 to 40 hours or from an average nine to eight hours a day, according to the report.

“Under the new rules, employers in the private sector are not allowed to force their employees work more than eight hours a day,” the report said.

The new law set work time in the fasting month of Ramdan at 35 hours a week for Moslems.