WORKING
HOURS
LIMITS
ON WORKING HOURS
As per Article (65) of the UAE Labour Law, the maximum number of normal working hours
most adult employees can be required to work in a
day is eight hours or 48 hours per week. For employees of
commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, watchmen and similar
operations, the number of hours in an established regular workday can be
increased to nine hours by the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Labour
and Ministry of Social Affairs may also decrease working hours per
day where work environments for employees are deemed hazardous or detrimental
to the health.
During normal working hours, regardless of an
individual’s occupation, every employee is entitled to a break for rest, meals
and prayer. As per the law, employees must not work five consecutive hours
without a break. This break must be at least one hour and does not count as
part of the employee’s normal working hours for the day. Transportation to and
from the workplace also do not count as part of the working hours or break
period.
To protect employees and ensure they are
granted break periods and rest days, a notice board showing the weekly working
hours for all categories of employees must be posted in the workplace. A copy
of the notice should also be submitted to the competent Labour Department as
per Article (73) of the UAE Labour Law.
Sometimes, an employer can ask their employee to work on their weekly day off, in return for extra wages, but, they are not allowed to oblige them to work for two consecutive holidays.
OVERTIME
If circumstances require an employee to work
overtime, he or she is entitled to overtime pay; normal wage plus an additional
amount of not less than 25% of his or her normal wage for the overtime period.
If the overtime falls between the hours of 9:00pm and 4:00am, the increase
should be not less than 50% of regular wage plus normal wage for the hours
worked. Women should not be required to work overnight hours under any
circumstance.
Friday is the normal weekly holiday for all
employees except for those on daily wage basis (i.e. laborers). If an employer
requires an employee to work on a Friday, he or she is entitled to receive a
rest day to be taken at a later date or be paid basic wage plus an increase of
not less than 50% of his or her normal wage. Employers must not require an
employee to work two consecutive Fridays unless they are employed under the
daily wage basis.
As per Article (69), actual overtime should
not exceed two hours per day, unless it is absolutely necessary to prevent
substantial loss or serious accident or to eliminate or alleviate its effects.
According to the UAE Labor Law, the limits on
working hours and overtime do not apply to the following categories:
- Persons holding responsible senior posts in the
management or supervision if holders of such titles are vested with the
authorities or employers over employees, and such category is to be
determined by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.
- Ship crews and sea men who work under special service
conditions due to the nature of their work, excluding Sea Port workers who
are engaged in loading and off-loading and related works.
WORKING
HOURS DURING RAMADAN
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the normal
working hours are reduced by two hours daily. It is usually at the employer’s
discretion where to cut the hours. (E.g. start two hours later or end the work
day two hours earlier, etc.)
As per the Ministry of Labour, the reduction
in working hours during Ramadan may not affect the salaries of employees and
the law is applicable to all employees, Muslim and Non-Muslim. Companies caught
in breach of the law may face fines. Overtime is permitted during Ramadan up to
two hours per day if required. However, employees must receive additional
compensation as per overtime rules.
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