RIYADH — A total of 2,526 rulings were issued by the Saudi labor courts in August 2019, according to the Ministry of Justice. The ministry attributed this number to digitization efforts that boosted court performance, saved clients' time and effort and streamlined justice services. Based on August figures, the daily average number of rulings reached 210, with Riyadh, Makkah and eastern regions accounting for 76% of the total. The rulings resolved cases related to wages (56% of the total), payouts, compensations, and experience certificates. The ministry has adopted an electronic framework for labor justice and provided the judges and staff with necessary training and qualifications. In addition, labor court regulations set time frames for amicable resolution of claims before litigation. This includes cases governed by the Labor Law, and cases related to domestic workers. Thanks to digital transformation efforts undertaken by the ministry, enforcement debtors can meet their financial obligations by settling "digital" invoices through various banking outlets. As soon as the payment is verified, all sanctions against the debtor are lifted. It is noteworthy that the Saudi judicial system has recently witnessed major strides in digitization, which simplified procedures and shortened the litigation timeframe. In addition, courthouses have been internally reorganized to streamline judicial work.
