The Labour Rights Index 2022 (LRI 2022) is a de-jure index covering 135 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2022. The Index does not take into account COVID-19 related labour market measures in its scoring.
Saudi Arabia’s overall score is 56 out of 100. The overall score for Saudi Arabia is lower than the regional average observed across the Middle East and North Africa (61.26). Within the Middle East and North Africa region, the highest score is observed for Morocco (79.5).
Saudi Arabia received the worst possible score by default due to reported general prohibition of the right to establish and join organizations and/or collective bargaining in law and in practice (violations no. 23, 36 and/or 62 and 73 in the table below).