Working hours
According to UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980
Each and every employee must be aware of their exact working hours and this awareness must be in accordance with the provisions of the law governing the employee, knowing that legality will help the employee to be more productive as the employee will be working. in a suitable environment that helps you be more successful and increases your desire to work since the employee will have all their rights.
Some employers are taking advantage of employees who are not fully aware of the law by adding overtime to their original without paying them overtime and … etc. our mission here is to help employees understand their rights.
We will present some questions that will help the employee to understand everything related.
Q No. (1) What is the maximum daily work hours?
The daily maximum is eight hours and 48 hours per week in some circumstances it can be 9 hours. The change can be made by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, As established in article 65: “The normal maximum for adult workers will be eight hours a day, 48 hours a week. They may be increased to nine hours a day in establishments. commercial, hotels, cafeterias, security services and other businesses that are added by resolution of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. The daily working hours may be reduced by resolution of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, in the case of arduous work or dangerous for health. Two during the month of Ramadan will reduce normal working hours. The periods that a worker spends traveling between his home and his place of work will not be included in his working hours. “
Q No. (2): what is the regulation of working hours?
The employee shall not work for more than five successive hours, there must be a break to rest, pray and that break shall not exceed one hour. However, there is an exception mentioned in Article No. 66 for night shift employees which states that: “The daily work schedule will be regulated so that no worker works more than five consecutive hours without breaks – for rest, meals and prayer – for a minimum total amount of one hour Such breaks will not be included as part of working hours.
However, in factories and workshops where work is organized in the form of successive shifts day and night, and in processes where work must continue uninterrupted for technical and economic reasons, the way in which breaks should be granted, meals and prayer. it will be specified in a resolution of the Minister “
Q No. (3) Can daily working hours be modified?
Yes, working hours can be modified according to work needs and overtime will be treated as “overtime” and will be paid by the employer to the employees according to the percentage mentioned in Article No. 67 that establishes: ” When work circumstances require a worker to work more hours than normal, any period worked in excess will be considered as overtime, so the worker will receive the stipulated salary for their normal working day, plus a supplement of at least 25. percent of that salary. “
Q No. (4) What are overtime? Is there a difference if they were day or night?
Overtime hours are the overtime that the employee dedicates to the establishment of his work after exceeding his daily workday.
If the employee stayed after their workday between 9:00 p.m. M. And 4:00 a. M., You will have the right to the percentage mentioned in article 68 that establishes: “When work circumstances require a worker to work overtime between 9 p.m. AND at 4 in the morning, he will have the right, with respect to those overtime hours, to stipulated salary for their normal working hours, plus a supplement of at least 50 per cent of that salary “.
Q No. (5) What is the maximum overtime?
Overtime will not exceed two hours. However, if work needs urgently require more than two hours, it may be acceptable. As established in article No. 69: “The number of effective overtime hours shall not exceed two per day, unless such work is essential to prevent a substantial loss or serious accident, or to eliminate or alleviate the impact of the latter. “.
Q No. (6) When is the weekly rest day?
The weekly rest day is Friday as established in article 70: “Friday will be the normal weekly rest day for all workers, except the paid daily. When a worker must be put into service that day, he will be compensated with a substitute day off or be paid your base salary for your normal working hours plus a supplement of at least 50 percent of that salary “
Q No. (7) Is the normal employee required to work without having the weekly rest day?
The daily paid employee will only be required to work for more than two successive Fridays as established in Article No. 71: “No worker who is not a daily paid employee shall be obliged to work more than two successive Fridays.”
Q No. (8) Are these provisions abdicable for all categories of workers?
There are exceptions to the aforementioned provisions as established in Article No. 72: “The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the following categories: 1. Persons who hold senior management or supervisory executive positions, if said positions confer on the holders the powers of an employer over workers The categories in question will be specified by resolution of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
2. Crew of ships and sailors who provide services under special conditions of service due to the nature of their work, with the exception of port workers engaged in stevedoring and related operations “.
Q No. (9) Should employees’ working hours be advertised to everyone?
Yes, since the employer must announce the daily work schedule for all job categories, as well as the weekly rest day to be known to all in the manner established by law as established in article No. 73: “The employer shall publish in the main entrances used by the workers, and in a visible position in the workplace, a schedule with the weekly day off, the hours of work and the rest periods applicable to all classes of workers.
When the regular weekly rest day is not respected in the workplace, the employer will place in the places mentioned in the previous paragraph a schedule that indicates the weekly rest day for each class of workers “