🌙 Ramadan 2026: What Employers and Employees Should Know

Working Hours
No statutory reduction. During Ramadan, lunch breaks are typically removed and counted as working time, allowing employees to finish earlier without reducing total daily hours. Non-Muslim employees generally maintain standard hours.

Overtime Rules
Overtime applies only if employees work beyond their contractual hours, as total working hours are not formally reduced. The same approach applies to 12-hour schedules.

Working Hours
No statutory Ramadan-specific reduction under Egyptian labor law. However, it is common market practice for employers to reduce the workday during Ramadan, typically to 6 hours per day based on internal company policy. In practice, reduced hours are commonly applied to all employees, including non-Muslims.

Overtime Rules
Overtime is calculated after the reduced workday set by the employer (commonly after 6 hours).

• Daytime overtime: 1.35× normal hourly rate

• Nighttime overtime: 1.70× normal hourly rate

Working Hours
There is no statutory regulation requiring reduced working hours during Ramadan. In practice, employers may implement adjustments such as slightly shorter daily schedules (e.g., finishing 30 minutes earlier with a corresponding reduction in lunch break), earlier shift start and finish times, or maintaining official hours while allowing operational flexibility.

Overtime Rules
Overtime rules remain unchanged during Ramadan and apply only if employees work beyond their normal contractual working hours.

Working Hours
Ramadan is not recognized under Israeli labor law as a period requiring reduced working hours. The standard working day and week remain unchanged. Any schedule adjustments for Muslim employees observing Ramadan are at the employer’s discretion or may be arranged individually.

Overtime Rules
Overtime rules remain unchanged during Ramadan. Overtime applies when employees work beyond statutory daily or weekly limits and is calculated in accordance with standard Israeli labor regulations.

Working Hours
It is common market practice for companies in Jordan to reduce the workday to 6 hours during Ramadan.

Overtime Rules
Any hours worked beyond the 6-hour Ramadan schedule are treated as overtime.

• Normal working days: 125% of the regular hourly rate

• Holidays: 150% of the regular hourly rate

Working Hours
Ramadan is not officially recognized for employment purposes in Kazakhstan. There is no impact on working hours, and the standard working day remains unchanged. The same rules apply to all employees, regardless of religious affiliation.

Overtime Rules
Employees who work beyond their standard contractual hours (including those on 12-hour schedules) are entitled to overtime in accordance with the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Overtime is paid based on the employee’s average hourly rate.

Working Hours
Although the state recognizes Ramadan, the Labor Code of the Kyrgyz Republic does not provide for any reduction in working hours during the holy month. The standard working day and workweek remain unchanged. Labor legislation applies equally to all employees, with no distinctions based on religion.

Overtime Rules
Hours worked beyond 40 hours per week under a standard five-day workweek are treated as overtime. Overtime may be assigned only with the employer’s instruction or knowledge and the employee’s written consent. Overtime must not exceed 4 hours per day for two consecutive days.

Overtime Pay

• First 2 hours: at least 1.5× the regular rate

• Any additional hours: at least 2× the regular rate

Working Hours
Lebanese labor law does not mandate any reduction in working hours during Ramadan for private sector employees. Any adjustment is at the employer’s discretion. In this case, working hours are set from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM during Ramadan. Ramadan-related adjustments generally apply only to Muslim employees, unless the employer extends the same arrangement to non-Muslim staff.

Overtime Rules
Employees working beyond the standard 8-hour workday are entitled to overtime, regardless of Ramadan. Overtime is paid at 125% of the normal hourly rate on regular working days.

Working Hours
Malaysia does not mandate reduced working hours during Ramadan for the private sector under the Employment Act. Employers may implement flexible or adjusted schedules at their discretion. In the public sector, Ramadan working-hour adjustments are typically introduced through government circulars or administrative policies rather than statutory labor law. Any private sector adjustments depend on company policy.

Overtime Rules
Overtime rules remain unchanged during Ramadan. Overtime applies if employees work beyond their prescribed working hours and is calculated in accordance with standard labor or public service regulations.

Working Hours
There is no legal requirement for private sector employers in Morocco to reduce working hours during Ramadan. The standard working day remains unchanged. Ramadan does not affect working hours for non-Muslim employees, and all employees remain subject to the same contractual terms and Labour Code provisions.

Overtime Rules
Employees who work more than 8 hours per day are entitled to overtime pay, calculated based on the day and time worked:

• Regular working days (Monday–Saturday):

  • Day work (6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.): +25%

  • Night work (9:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.): +50%

• Weekly rest day (typically Sunday):

  • Day work: +50%

  • Night work: +100%

• Public holidays:

  • Day work: +100%

  • Night work: +150%

For employees on 12-hour schedules, the 4 hours worked beyond the standard 8-hour day are treated as overtime at the applicable premium rates.

Working Hours
Ramadan is officially recognized in Pakistan. In practice, Muslim employees typically work reduced hours during Ramadan, commonly 1–2 hours less than the normal daily schedule. These reductions are based on local labor practice and employer policy rather than a fixed statutory requirement. Reduced hours generally apply only to Muslim employees observing the fast, unless the employer extends the arrangement to the entire workforce.

Overtime Rules
Any hours worked beyond the applicable reduced daily working hours are treated as overtime. Overtime is calculated based on the employee’s regular hourly rate and is typically paid at 1.5× or 2×, depending on company policy and applicable labor regulations. For employees on 12-hour schedules, overtime applies to any excess hours accordingly.

Working Hours
Saudi Arabia officially recognizes Ramadan. Under the Labour Law (Article 98), Muslim employees are entitled to a maximum of 6 working hours per day during Ramadan to accommodate fasting and religious observance. The statutory reduction applies only to Muslim employees. Non-Muslim employees remain subject to standard working hours (up to 48 hours per week), unless the employer voluntarily applies the reduced schedule to them.

Overtime Rules
Any hours worked beyond the reduced 6-hour Ramadan schedule are considered overtime and must be paid at 1.5× the regular hourly wage (hourly wage + 50%).

Working Hours
Senegal’s Labour Code does not provide for any reduction or special working hours during Ramadan. The standard working day and workweek remain unchanged. Recognition of Ramadan has no impact on non-Muslim employees, and all employees remain subject to the same contractual working hours and Labour Code provisions.

Overtime Rules
The standard workweek in Senegal is 40 hours. Any hours worked beyond this threshold are treated as overtime and must be paid at statutory premium rates based on the employee’s normal hourly wage:

• First 8 overtime hours per week: +15% (minimum 1.15×)

• Overtime beyond 8 hours in the same week: +40% (minimum 1.40×)

• Night overtime: +60% (minimum 1.60×)

• Sunday or public holiday work: +60% (minimum 1.60×)

Working Hours
Ramadan is recognized in practice in Tunisia. Working hours are customarily reduced by 2 hours per day during the holy month.

• A 9-hour workday (including breaks) is reduced to 7 hours

• A 12-hour workday (including breaks) is reduced to 10 hours

Reduced working hours are generally applied to all employees, regardless of religion or fasting status, as a standard labor practice.

Overtime Rules
For employees on 12-hour schedules, any overtime or deviation from statutory limits during Ramadan generally requires employee consent. Where agreed, overtime is calculated as follows:

• Daily rate: Monthly salary ÷ 22

• Hourly rate: Daily rate ÷ 8

• Overtime pay: Hourly rate × number of extra hours worked

Working Hours
Ramadan is not formally recognized under Turkish labor law as a basis for reduced working hours. The standard working day and week remain unchanged. Employers may offer flexibility at their discretion, but this is not a statutory requirement.

Overtime Rules
Overtime rules remain unchanged during Ramadan. Overtime applies when employees exceed the standard weekly working limit (45 hours per week under Turkish Labor Law) and is compensated in accordance with statutory regulations.

Working Hours
The UAE officially recognizes Ramadan. Federal labor law mandates a two-hour reduction in the standard working day for all public and private sector employees during the month, with no reduction in pay. Compliance is mandatory across sectors. The reduction applies to all private sector employees, including non-Muslims and non-fasting employees, under MoHRE regulations.

Overtime Rules
Any hours worked beyond the reduced Ramadan schedule are treated as overtime.

• Daytime overtime: minimum +25% of the normal hourly rate

• Nighttime overtime: minimum +50%

• Rest day work: either a compensatory day off or +50% overtime pay

Failure to apply the reduced working hours constitutes a breach of UAE labor law.