The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced shorter working hours for UAE‘s private sector employees during Ramadan. From Sunday, April 26 onwards, the working hours for those in the private sector will be reduced by two hours.
This will continue throughout the duration of the Holy Month, which began in the UAE on Friday, April 24, and is expected to last for 29 or 30 days as per the lunar calendar. While most employees are expected to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, the announcement urged them to continue to follow the strict precautionary measures put in place by the government to safeguard their health. The working hours for public sector employees have also been reduced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources which announced last week that federal and ministerial employees will work for five hours a day, from 9am to 2pm.
Ministerial announcement: Reducing the working day by two hours for all employees working in the private sector during the holy month of Ramadan (1441 Hijri), as per the federal law no. 8 for 1980, on regulating labour relations. #MOHRE #UAE pic.twitter.com/ZxJ39o9MS5
— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) April 24, 2020
Due to the pandemic, Muslims in the UAE will be celebrating a Ramadan unlike any others before, as the country sees the closure of mosques, restrictions on large gatherings, and suspension of iftar tents to curb the spread of the virus. Although the UAE government has eased a few restrictions as well this past weekend, including the reopening of malls and shopping centers, Dubai Metro starting its operations, and allowing social gatherings of up to ten people during the Holy Month.
In Dubai, it has also been announced that employees can also return to working from offices if it is absolutely essential. However, the number of people within the office space must not be 30 percent more than the space’s capacity and the employees must follow social distancing, wears masks at all times, and have their body temperature checked regularly.
