Labor court orders barber to pay SR40,866 for breaching employment contract

A Saudi labor court has mandated an Arab barber to compensate his employer with SR40,866 for violating his employment contract. The ruling, reported by Okaz newspaper, stems from the barber's departure from his job without adhering to legal termination procedures.

The court calculated the compensation based on the remaining 621 days of the worker's fixed-term contract. Court documents revealed the barber began his three-year employment in Jeddah on Sept. 19, 2024, under a contract officially registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

In early 2026, the barber accepted a job offer in Madinah for the same profession. He left his Jeddah employer without providing any notification. When he attempted to transfer his employment services to the new company, his current employer rejected the request and sought reimbursement for statutory fees already paid.

Following the failed transfer, the worker departed Saudi Arabia for his home country. The case highlights the legal consequences of breaching employment agreements within the Kingdom.