Employee working hours depend on nature of operations
These labour rights by UAE governing bodies also help to maintain work-life balance
Understanding your employee rights is a very important part of living and working in the UAE. An important part of the labour laws concerns working hours applicable to employees.
While your employer may not be one of those that enforces extremely stringent workhour regulations, it is important to be aware of what the law defines in terms of the time you spend at work. These labour rights provided for by the UAE governing bodies also help to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Below is the labour law, as published by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) with regard to working hours.
What is the legal limit number on daily working hours? The maximum number of ordinary working hours for adult workers (not including breaks) shall be eight hours per day, or 48 hours per week.
The number of hours may be increased to nine hours per day for people employed in certain operations such as trade, hotels and hospitality, cafeterias, security and other jobs. New job categories can be added to this list based on the discretion of the MOHRE. Furthermore, the daily number of working hours can be reduced for strenuous or harmful professions at the discretion of the Ministry.
Is the time taken for the commute to work included in working hours?
The period spent by the employee travelling from the place of residence to work shall not be calculated within the working hours. Therefore, the limit of eight or nine hours will not include transport time.
What are the rules regarding break time?
The daily working hours shall be regulated so that the worker does not work more than five consecutive hours without intervals for rest, meals and/or prayer times. Moreover, the period of these breaks throughout the day shall not be less than one hour in total. Such breaks shall not be included in the calculation of working hours.
For factories and workshops where work is carried out in consecutive shifts round the clock, or for work that requires uninterrupted work for technical and economic reasons, the ministry shall regulate the methods whereby workers are granted the periods of rest, meals and/or prayer.
What if your employer makes you work longer hours?
If the work circumstances require an employee to work for more than the ordinary working hours, the additional period shall be deemed an overtime. Wages/pay for such overtime should be calculated as an amount equivalent to the ordinary hourly wage, along with an addition of at least 25 per cent on this hourly wage.
What if my shift is overnight? If circumstances require an employee to work between 9pm and 4am, the worker shall be entitled, in counterpart for the overtime. Wages/pay is calculated as an amount equivalent to the ordinary hourly wage, along with an addition of at least 50 per cent.
How many overtime hours is an employee legally allowed to undertake?
Effective overtime working hours cannot exceed two hours per day, unless such work is necessary for the prevention of the occurrence of a colossal loss, a serious accident or the removal or mitigation of the consequences thereof.
■ Disclaimer: All these provisions apply to permanent employees and workers. Gulf News is not responsible for any amendments made to the UAE Labour Law or any misinterpretations that may rise thereof. All labour disputes must go through the MOHRE.