Living In UAE

I am working regular hours during Ramadan. Do I get paid overtime?

How is overtime work calculated based on UAE Labour Law? Find out.

Published: April 18, 2021 16:12 Huda Tabrez, Living in UAE Editor

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If you are being asked to work for longer hours during Ramadan, how will the overtime compensation be calculated as per the UAE Labour Law? — Staying back to work late during Ramadan? Find out if you are entitled to overtime pay. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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According to Mohamed Gamal, Legal Advisor at Kaden Boriss Legal Consultants, Dubai, the only difference in working during Ramadan, is that just the working hours are reduced by two hours. — Does the reduced working hour apply to all employees, whether Muslim or non-Muslim? Read here: gulfnews.com/1.1618291964732 Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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So, if you work for more than the stipulated number of hours – which is two hours less during Ramadan – you are entitled to overtime pay. The calculation is based on Articles 65, 67 and 68 of the UAE Labour Law. — Overtime calculation depends on various factors. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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“According to Article 65 of the Federal Labor Law, which regulates work in the private sector, the maximum normal working hours for adult workers are eight hours per day, or forty eight hours per week … — Article 65 lays down the regular working hour rules. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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“… The working hours may be increased to nine hours per day in commercial businesses, hotel business, canteens, guard duties, and other works that may be added by a decision from the Minister,” Gamal said. — Some industries are allowed to have longer working hours, depending on the nature of work. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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“It is also permissible to reduce the daily working hours for work that is exhausting or harmful to health, by a decision of the Minister, and the normal working hours are reduced by two hours during the month of Ramadan,” he added. — Work hours may be reduced if work conditions can negatively affect the worker’s health. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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However, Gamal confirmed that there is no difference in the way overtime is calculated during Ramadan, as compared to other days of the year. — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Overtime calculation According to Article 67 of the UAE Labour Law, if the worker is required to carry out additional work beyond the regular working hours, “the additional period shall be deemed an overtime … — Article 67 mentions overtime calculation in regular situations. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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“… for which the worker shall be paid a wage equivalent to the ordinary hourly wage with an addition of at least 25 per cent of the said wage.” — Wage for overtime includes the regular hourly wage with at least 25 per cent extra. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Article 68 further mentions that if the overtime is done between the hours of 9pm and 4am, the worker shall be entitled to a wage equivalent to the ordinary hourly wage with an addition of at least 50 per cent of the said wage. — If you work late, the additional wage (apart from the regular hourly wage) is at least 50 per cent. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Exceptions However, there are certain categories of workers who are not entitled to these provisions of the Labour Law, as stated in Article 72. — However, not everyone is entitled to overtime. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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The exceptions fall under two categories: 1. Persons occupying high-ranked managerial or supervisory positions, should such positions confer upon the occupants powers of the employer over the workers. — Who does the overtime rule not apply to? Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2. Workers constituting the crew of naval vessels, and sea workers who shall enjoy special service conditions due to the nature of their work, with the exception of the port workers engaged in the loading and unloading and related operations. — This story was first published on April 18, 2021, and has been updated since. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

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