The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has released a circular issuing the official working hours for government ministries and federal employees as well as workers during the Ramadan 2023.
It is to be mentioned that the working are reduced by two hours per day during the month of Ramadan, as per the Article 15(2) of the Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022. This noted that the daily working hours will be reduced by 2 hours during the Ramadan month, subject to the provisions of Article 17 of the Employment Law.
The circular issued by the FAHR UAE, noted that, “The authority determines the working hours of the federal government during the holy month of Ramadan
From Monday to Thursday: 09:00 – 02:30
Friday: 09:00 – 12:00
With the permissibility of the federal authorities continuing to implement the flexible work regulations approved by them, within the limits of the approved number of working hours per day.”
الهيئة تحدد ساعات دوام الحكومة الاتحادية خلال شهر رمضان المبارك
من الاثنين إلى الخميس: 09:00 – 02:30
الجمعة: 09:00 – 12:00مع جوازية استمرار الجهات الاتحادية في تطبيق لوائح العمل المرن المعتمدة لديها، وذلك ضمن حدود عدد ساعات العمل المعتمدة يومياً. pic.twitter.com/jgaCTcAchc
— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) March 10, 2023
Notably, the regular maximum working hours per day in the UAE are 8 hours a day or 48 per week, according to the Article 17 (1) of the Employment Law.
It is also to be noted that, employers across the UAE are required to follow the laws regarding the working hours during Ramadan. On the basis of above mentioned provisions of law, employers may also reduce the regular timings for each shift from eight hours to six, and any extra hours of work will be considered as overtime.
While highlighting it as a good gesture, employers across the United Arab Emirates may consider to employing their Muslim employees during the other shifts but not during the evening times, so that they can end their fast and can also offer the prayers. This may also help in creating a better work-life balance for the employees during the Ramadan month.