New Labor Regulations: Salary Deductions Shall Not Exceed 5 Days
The Ministry of Labor has announced the general rules for the work regulation bylaws in private sector establishments, as one of the executive decisions of Labor Law No. 14 of 2025. These rules apply to establishments with ten or more employees, with the aim of establishing a unified framework that regulates the relationship between the worker and the employer.
The most prominent point directly affecting employees is that salary deductions are no longer open-ended. The rules stipulate that a financial penalty for a single violation shall not exceed five days' wages, and no more than five days' wages may be deducted from a worker's salary within a single month. More important than the deduction amount is the procedure that precedes it: no penalty may be imposed before a written and impartial investigation is conducted, the worker's statements are heard, and the worker is enabled to present their defense.
The rules are not limited to penalties. They encompass wage protection, equal pay for work of equal value, the regulation of working hours, rest periods, annual, official, and sick leave, and controls for overtime work to ensure the worker receives the due compensation, in addition to regulating flexible work and remote work. The rules also mandate the existence of a written employment contract for every worker before they commence their work, as well as the organization of the worker's file and the maintenance of the confidentiality of their data.
Among the new provisions that affect the daily life of the worker is the entitlement to emergency leave on the day of the birth of their child.
What should you do now? Request a copy of the approved work regulation bylaws at your establishment, as it is the reference upon which you are held accountable. Ensure that you have a written employment contract. If a financial penalty is imposed on you, verify three things: that there was a written investigation preceding the penalty, that you were questioned and your defense was heard, and that the total deduction does not exceed five days' wages per month. If these conditions are not met, you may file a complaint with the competent Labor Directorate in your governorate.