'Firms must pay for overtime during Ramadan'

The companies will face penalties in case their employees are forced to work for more than six hours without overtime payment irrespective of their religion during the holy month of Ramadan, said a source at the Ministry of Labour (MoL).
The firms must abide by the ministry’s instructions and the labour law regarding the working hours during Ramadan, said Ahmed Al Besher, legal advisor at the MoL Dispute Department office here.
The ministry’s clarification came after workers of an Abu Dhabi-based company complained to Khaleej Times that the managers forced them to work for eight hours without any overtime benefits because they are not Muslims.

When Khaleej Times took their complaint to the MoL, Al Besher said the labour law of this Islamic nation respects human rights and every resident has to abide by the law.
“The working hours during Ramadan are six hours irrespective of the religion of the workers. In case they are made to work for more than six hours, the company must pay him/her for overtime at the rate of 1.5 hours for every one hour worked,” Al Besher said. Forcing the employees to work for more than six hours without paying them for overtime is a violation of the labour law. Source