Great relief for expatriates during Ramzan; Work hours reduced, up to 75% off on 10,000 products

ABU DHABI: As the new moon has been seen in Saudi Arabia, the fasting of Ramzan has started today in the Gulf countries. The UAE government has announced many benefits for residents including expatriates during the holy month.

Working hours

The government has significantly reduced working hours during the holy month. There will be three-and-a-half-hour relaxation in working hours from Monday to Thursday and one and-a half hours’ relaxation on Fridays. All departments and other agencies under the government will function from Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 2.30 pm and on Friday from 9 am to 12 pm. There is a strict recommendation that working hours should not exceed five and a half hours. There is also a provision to give two-hour relaxation to workers working in the private sector. Government employees also get three days off in a week. Immigration offices will be open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Schools hours

The UAE government has suggested that schools should not operate for more than four to five hours. Working hours on Fridays will be three hours only.

Unauthorized price hike

The UAE government will ensure that the prices of goods are not increased illegally. A National Task Force will be appointed for this purpose. Raw materials will be monitored to see if prices increase for primary products. Nine products in the market will be prevented from increasing in price. There is a strict directive that prices of cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, chicken, bread, pulses and wheat should not be increased during the month of Ramzan.

The government also introduced price reductions for ten thousand products. 80 per cent of these are essential foodstuffs. Cooking oil, flour and rice have been reduced by up to 75 per cent. Dates, one of the staple foods for breaking the fast, have been discounted by up to 40 per cent.