Abu Dhabi: Companies which do not reduce working hours for their employees by two hours during the month of Ramadan could face stiff penalties, a senior Ministry of Labour (MoL) official warned in the capital Tuesday.

These penalties could include a fine up to Dh 10,000, as well a suspension of the firm's ability to issue labour permits for a specified period, the official added.

The two-hour reduction in work timings is applicable for all workers, both in the public and the private sector, regardless of their religious belief. The regulation allows those who work for eight hours a day throughout the year to avail of a six-hour workday in Ramadan, while those who work for nine hours should benefit from a seven-hour workday during the holy month.

Speaking to Gulf News, the MoL official said the ministry was currently is inspecting firms to check compliance both with the Ramadan timings, as well as with the midday break rule that prevents outdoor work between the hours of 12:30 PM and 3 PM from June 15 to September 15.

"Inspectors are making regular visits to ensure compliance with both the Ramadan and midday regulations," he said.

"However, it is impossible to check all of the labour establishments across the country, which number more than 180,000 at present. Inspectors are therefore focussing on midday break compliance, which is essential to ensure the basic health and rights of workers. At the same time, they are also checking to see that employers are not forcing workers to work more than the six or seven specified hours per day," he explained.

According to the official, employers can only legally require employees to put in more than the six or seven hours of work with consent from the employees.

"In this case, the extra hours of work cannot exceed four hours on a daily basis, and the worker must be paid 150 per cent of his normal hourly rate of pay for each extra hour worked," he said.

A number of private sector employees have recently complained to Gulf News about companies violating the two-hour workday reduction for the holy month.

An Asian expatriate working in a private sector firm said all non-Muslim managerial and senior staff at his workplace had been asked to work the full eight hours even during Ramadan.

"A memo sent by our HR manager said the reason was because the firm is ‘operationally very busy', but this seems unjust," he added.

An official at the MoL hotline however urged individuals to forward complaints to the ministry.

"All grievances will be investigated once employees are paid their salaries at the end of the month, and we will check to ensure that all workers have been paid their overtime dues for having to work extra hours during the holy month," the official said.

Complaints

Call the Ministry of Labour at 800 665 to lodge complaints about Ramadan working hours.