Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
Countries
LRI 2024
heatmap

Saudi Arabia

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 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 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s overall score is 62.5 out of 100. The overall score for Saudi Arabia is lower than the regional average observed across Middle East and North Africa (64). Within the Middle East and North Africa region, the highest score is observed for Morocco (77).

Saudi Arabia has not ratified either Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) or the Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949).

Labour Rights Index 2024

62.5/100

LRI Country Score

0/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

. %

Trade union density rate (%)

. %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

6.64

SDG indicator 8.8.2

5

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

No

0

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 (Saudi Arabia profile); USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

C,D

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

No

0

USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

No

0

USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

No

0

USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 (Saudi Arabia profile); USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

C : ITUC

ITUC Global Rights Index (country legal profile)

"Saudi workers have the right to establish workers' committees in workplaces employing more than 100 workers. Anyone who tries to form a union can be fired, jailed or (if they are migrant workers) deported. Only one committee may be formed in each of the companies qualified to do so. Foreign workers cannot be part of workers' committees."

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The law does not provide for the right of workers to form and join independent unions; however, trade unions and labor committees existed. "

Information

Source: USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The law does not provide for the right to collective bargaining or the right to conduct legal strikes. "

Information

Source: USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The law does not provide for the right to collective bargaining or the right to conduct legal strikes. "

Information

Source: USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination or require reinstatement of workers fired for union activity."