Dubai UAE - The holy month of Ramadan often brings changes to work schedules across the UAE. While daily hours get reduced by two hours, some employees may find themselves clocking extra time to meet deadlines or cover staffing gaps. But do those additional hours entitle you to overtime pay?
According to Mohamed Gamal, a legal advisor at Kaden Boriss Legal Consultants in Dubai, the calculation remains the same as the rest of the year based on Articles 65, 67, and 68 of the UAE Labour Law.
"The law limits normal working hours to 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week for most private sector employees," Gamal explains. "During Ramadan, that daily limit drops to 6 hours while the weekly cap of 48 hours stays unchanged."
So if you work beyond those revised Ramadan hours, you've earned overtime. The law requires employers to pay you 25% above your normal hourly rate for those extra hours. The premium jumps to 50% if you're working the overnight shift between 9 PM and 4 AM.
However, Gamal notes a few exceptions where overtime pay doesn't apply. "High-level managers with supervisory authority over other staff aren't eligible, nor are sea workers like crew on naval vessels."
For the rest of us working stiffs, it's important to track those additional Ramadan hours. If your employer expects you to log extra time, ensure you receive the overtime compensation you've rightfully earned.
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