Highlights
- Working during Ramadan can be challenging because of the duty to fast
- Some employers allow Muslim staff to switch to evening shifts
- Flexibility is needed from employers during Ramadan
With the holy month commencing on April 2, millions of Muslims around the world and in Australia are preparing to observe it.
It occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and requires healthy adult Muslims to fast each day from dawn until dusk.
This includes abstaining from drinking fluids, eating, smoking, immoral acts and anger/arguments while extra worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are encouraged during the holy month.
As Muslim workers factor fasting into their duties, the period shines a light on just how flexible Australian workplaces are in accommodating people observing Ramadan.
In some regions across the world, including the Middle East, governments have put in place certain workplace rules stipulating reduced workloads and work hours during the month.
Elsewhere, however, arrangements between workers and employers have not been formed at the governmental level.
Jamal Babeker, a cleaning industry union member in Australia, told SBS Arabic24: “There are no rules in Australia whereby employees can ask employers to accommodate different workloads or hours while fasting in Ramadan.”
“It is all left to the worker and employer if they want to engage in an arrangement taking into consideration the worker’s religious or cultural obligations,” he added.
The arrangement may include giving workers the choice to delay lunch breaks until dusk when Muslims break their fasts or to start work an hour earlier.
Muslims are required to fast from dawn (approximately 5am) until dusk time at nearly 6pm.
Mr Babeker said his son started work an hour earlier than his shift which usually started at 9am in order to finish at 4pm so that he had the chance to have his Iftar meal at dusk with the family at home.
However, this is not the only arrangement that can be reached, according to managers that SBS Arabic24 has spoken to, as accommodation may vary depending on work type and shifts.
Khalid Tinj is the owner of the Middle Eastern bakery and pastry shop, Sweet Inspirations, in the Melbourne suburb of Campbellfield.
A Muslim family in Sydney enjoys iftar together during Ramadan. Source: SBS
He said his employees came from various backgrounds, and many were Muslims.
“This gives me the flexibility to assign day shifts to workers not fasting and night shifts mainly to fasting Muslim workers during Ramadan,” he explained.
The work at his bakery involves using ovens and furnaces which make workers in dire need of drinking water all the time.
“The night shift helps Muslim workers do their work duties as they can drink and eat during night hours of Ramadan."
The Sydney-based Arab Australian Council (AAC) is a community organisation that offers more flexibility to its staff during Ramadan.
“Work flexibility is part of our policy for our staff from all backgrounds," AAC President Randa Qatan said.
“In Ramadan, we give the staff more flexibility to work from home if they opt to."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Australian employers resorted to a hybrid model of work, giving staff the option to work from home.
AAC staff are given the option to leave work earlier in Ramadan if they observe the holy month, Ms Qatan says.
What does the Fair Work Ombudsman say?
A Fair Work Ombudsman
The states: "Employers can support the needs of employees participating in cultural or religious holidays by: agreeing with employees to use leave entitlements to take time off work; acknowledging or celebrating these holidays in the workplace to promote awareness and inclusion; and/or agreeing to a change in working arrangements, such as a change to hours, patterns or locations of work to accommodate the holiday."
Not all employers are as accommodating but advice is available
But not all Australian employers let their Muslim workers enjoy flexibility because they do not want to change their daily work routine, or they are unaware of the workers’ cultural obligations.
Mr Babeker said some employers were reluctant to change their daily work model or shifts due to work pressures or labour constraints.
"In the past, I saw some workers having their Iftar meal while on their way home after dusk time," he said.
Regarding what she said was a lack of knowledge about the Muslim faith, Ms Qatan said: “Some Australian organisations, businesses and employers come to us for advice on Muslim culture and what to do during Ramadan.”
“We usually give them advice or refer them to religious institutions for more detailed information,” she said.
On the other hand, some business owners engage more openly with their employees during Ramadan.
Mr Tinj said: “When the Iftar time comes, we all gather at the workplace to have a group Iftar meal together.”
And as Ramadan approaches this year, Australia's Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed appealed to employers to do their part by “showing all the possible work flexibility for Muslim workers on fasting".
