Many workers endure more and longer shifts during holy month, despite laws stipulating at least one day off per week
As in most Muslim nations, Ramadan days in Qatar are a relaxed affair, with the government fixing working hours to five a day for its workforce and six hours for the private sector.
Most private businesses in the country obey the rules, allowing workers to come late or leave early. But workers in the food industry end up working even harder during Ramadan than during the rest of the year.
A salesman working at a supermarket in the capital Doha’s Najma neighbourhood told Middle East Eye his employer makes him and his 30-plus colleagues work extra hours through Ramadan.
“Thirteen hours is the normal working day. But in Ramadan, hours can get extended because of the shoppers’ changed routine,” said the man, who in common with several workers in this piece did not wish to be identified, citing concerns for their jobs.
During Ramadan, many non-working shoppers sleep after suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, until the midday prayer. Businesses then become active in the afternoon until iftar-time, and then there is another lull until the night-time Tarawih prayer.
Many groceries and supermarkets are open until very late during the holy month, up to 2am.
“Customers coming or not, we have to be present at the shop all the time,” the salesman said.
Like the rules around reduced working hours during Ramadan, many provisions in the Qatari labour law...
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