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Human Resources Ministry asks institutions to seek health ministry-approved vaccination proof from employees.
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New regulations will not apply to people exempted from taking the vaccine according to the Tawakkalna app.
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has warned that leave days of unvaccinated employees in all sectors will be deducted if they fail to get a Covid-19 vaccine shot.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has instructed public, private and non-profit institutions to seek vaccination proof, approved by the Ministry of Health on the Tawakkalna mobile app, from employees and workers.
The institutions are required to ask unvaccinated employees to work remotely. But if the employer believes the remote work is not beneficial, an employee would be granted leave that would be deduced from their official leave balance.
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES
Unvaccinated employees can avail eligible leave days as per conditions and requirements. But if an employee doesn’t meet these requirements, then absence days would be deducted from the balance of regular leaves or considered as excused absence that doesn’t merit payment.
PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS: Unvaccinated employees in these sectors will be granted official leave from their annual balance but if the employee has exhausted his balance, he will be granted unpaid leave. Once the unpaid leave period exceeds 20 days, his contract will be considered suspended, unless the two parties agree otherwise.
In case of disagreement with a worker, the employer shall deal with the consequences according to the procedures approved by law. The employee must be informed about decisions issued in this regard.
New regulations will not apply to people exempted from taking the vaccine according to the Tawakkalna app.