Where can we complain? Abuse against Ramadan Work Schedule?
Before the Ramadan started, a memo was distributed announcing the working hours to be observed during the Holy Ramadan and that is 7 hours a day (assuming 1 hour as breaktime, but we rather work than eat to pay respect to our muslim brothers). Today, one of the top management (Irish guy) came to office, met us and was asking us to work following our regular working schedule. He "tried" to politely ask us to consider this as something to give back to the company, and again politely "threatening" us by saying that our bonuses and salary increments will also be based in our so called "dedication to commit ourselves" during this period.
It's like a dagger in our neck for us to comply... he is also aware that this is against the law and culture, that is why he is trying to outsmart us by instructing verbally, instead of issuing a memo to make it formal.
Is it possible for us to complain, its gonna be his words against (more or less) 50 staffs he spoke to? Who are the proper authorities we should report this unethical practice?
Thank you to all QLers!
Our company made us work 9hrs split in morning from 8am - 2pm and night from 8pm - 11pm
troublemaker: who are you to tell us to shut up?
but since you already asked me the abundance of jobs in our country, I could say yes! we have a lot! Since you forgot to ask if i am paid better here or not.. then your point is senseless.
I hope you are educated enough to knw the difference between an official document and a "backdoor" verbal instruction, then clearly you are a nutter trying to be smart.
Remember shutting once mouth doesn't solve the problem but only encourages abuse.
I hope abuse won't eat you alive.
Cheers!
How many jobs are there where you come from???
Keep your mouth shut and do as your told. Your lucky to have a job.
Jolena,
Thank you for the article. Very informative.
From jolena's answer you can easily see that laws in Qatar are something special: sometimes they are followed, sometimes they are not.
Please pay attention to the words from the Labour Department within this article. Do not read only the title, as it's misleading.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=local_news&month=august2009&file=local_news2009082171133.xml
Six-hour work rule not binding: QCCI
Web posted at: 8/21/2009 7:11:33
Source ::: THE PENINSULA/ By Joyce C AbaÑo and ABDULLA ABDULRAHMAN
DOHA: With Ramadan just a day away, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), the representative body of the private sector, has said it is not mandatory for companies covered by the labour law to reduce daily working hours to six during the holy month.
But the Ministry of Labour emphatically maintains that working hours in private establishments must be reduced to six during the fasting month and the rule is applicable to both Muslim and non-Muslim employees.
According to the QCCI, the daily working hours are decided by the job contract an employee has signed with a private company.
“People need to work strictly in accordance with the agreement they have signed with their employer. If the contract mentions that one has to work for six hours during Ramadan, one should work for that duration,” said Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, Vice-Chairman of QCCI.
“Whether it is Ramadan or not, a private sector employee needs to put in as many hours of work daily as specified in the job contract,” Al Emadi reiterated.
But a senior official of the Ministry of Labour, Abdullah Al Mohannadi, told this newspaper in response to a question that as per Qatar’s labour law a private sector employee should work for only six hours during the fasting month.
Refusing to answer further questions on whether the six-hour rule was applicable to both Muslim and non-Muslim private sector employees and if the labour department conducted raids on firms to ensure compliance with the six-hour rule, he reiterated: “Even if your contract specifies that your working hours are eight or 10 a day, during Ramadan you can just work for six hours and leave.”
And there is no need for one’s job contract to specify that daily working hours during Ramadan will be six, he added.
But Al Emadi insisted that private entities go strictly by the terms and conditions regarding working hours specified in their employees’ job agreements.
Meanwhile, a large multinational company that is new to Qatar said it was applying the six-hour working rule during Ramadan with respect to all its employees.
“As it is, we have flexible working hours for our employees… Since we have operations in many Muslim countries we are aware of the work schedule during Ramadan,” the company’s CEO said.
flanostu : Lol! maybe! Then we can punish him thrice, 1 for the unethical act, 2nd for being drunk during working hours and lastly for drinking during this period.
thanks man!
sugar : thank you for the info.
In Ramadan the work timing changes for all.
When I used to work, my boss used to make us work until 4 and she used to make us work during Eid. I didn't mind it, because I loved my job so much and for me, its part of my jihad. It all was well until she took Christmas, New Years, Easter, Thanks Giving, her Birthday off that I changed my mind. When it was Eid, I would take 3 days off, without her permission, and she knew she couldn't argue with me or even comment because she could get into trouble. So, it worked well.
You should just make sure you know your rights and give their right. Ask the right people, Qatarliving can't help you (i think).
don't worry, he's irish. was probably drunk.
Thank you sir for the prompt response. I guess we (the 50 staffs) he spoke to this morning should be enough witnesses for the labour department to investigate and punish this guy and his allies.
dear ,
boss as its month of ramadan and comes with alot of blessings my suggestion to ignore it once and ALLAH will punish him for doing bad to u ppl and if want you can go to labour department and complain about it but u should have couple of witness to support ur issue and complain it .