Civil servants cannot postpone their annual vacations for more than three years, according to an amendment to Article One of the Vacations Regulations approved by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The amendment to the circular issued by the Civil Service Council, a copy of which Okaz/Saudi Gazette obtained, says that civil servants are entitled to an ordinary vacation of 36 days every year of their service with full salary. A civil servant can receive a vacation salary in advance, and can divide his vacation into smaller periods of time, provided that each is not less than five days. A government employee can postpone his vacation more than once but cannot defer it beyond three years. Employees must make use of at least 36 annual vacation days in three years time. The authorities concerned should approve an employee's annual vacation application. If he is needed at his place of work, then his vacation can be deferred but not beyond 90 days from the date of vacation mentioned in the application. If a government employee does not submit an application for vacation, then the authorities concerned must issue a decision to grant him vacation without consulting him, and he should be informed of the decision, otherwise the number of vacation days will be deducted from his vacation balance. The employee has no right to demand vacation later or compensation at the end of his service. The circular stressed that government authorities should give their employees the chance to take their ordinary vacations by establishing an annual program in conformity with the work schedule. __
