Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — After three years of continuous efforts, Minister of Justice Waleed Al-Sama›ani on Monday inaugurated the first labor courts in the Kingdom.

The new specialized courts are built to set new standards for courts across the Kingdom.

“The transfer of labor courts to the Ministry of Justice is the latest episode in the work for the specialized justice system stipulated in the Saudi Law of the Judiciary,” the minister said.

“The Supreme Judicial Council has played a great role and paved the way for this shift, with its impact on the investment and economic environment,” he added.

“These courts come at a pivotal stage in the history of the Saudi judiciary, where the system has been witnessing a digital and institutional transformation, in line with the economic development of our country,” Al-Sama’ani said. “Our homeland is enjoying development in various aspects, moving toward transformation and Vision 2030”.

Procedures at the new courts will be fully digital for the swift delivery of justice and better service to clients, the minister said, noting the importance of speed and technology. The labor court judges have diverse experiences and were trained to handle labor cases, he added.

The minister expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development for its efforts and cooperation in the smooth transfer of labor jurisdiction to the new courts.

Labor courts and panels started exercising their jurisdiction, as stipulated in the Civil Procedure Law, as of Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The decision also identified six minor types of cases that cannot be contested after a judgment has been issued by a first instance court. These include, for example, cases with a financial claim less than SR20,000, claim of experience certificate, or worker’s documents kept by previous employer, and complaints against the decisions of the commissions on domestic employment.

The Supreme Judicial Council also clarified that cases registered at amicable settlement departments shall be referred to the labor courts and panels as soon as the courts commenced their work. The competent departments shall continue to implement the decisions of commissions on labor dispute settlement regarding applications for enforcing the judgments of labor courts, it said.