Statutory Basis: Egypt
Egyptian Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 & Annual Cabinet Resolutions — Articles 80–85
Under Egyptian Labor Law No. 12 of 2003, standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. While the statute does not contain an automatic blanket reduction for the private sector, annual ministerial decrees and standard labor customs establish reduced operational hours (typically 5 to 6.5 hours) across public and private sectors.
Does this apply to non-Muslim employees?
In Egypt, company-wide Ramadan shift changes apply to all personnel in an office or factory, regardless of religious affiliation, to allow teams to coordinate transport, shifts, and client support seamlessly.
Sector-by-Sector Ramadan Work Schedules
Overtime Calculations During Ramadan
Daytime Overtime (Article 85)
Formula: Basic Wage + 35% premium
Overtime worked during daytime hours (between sunrise and sunset) is paid at regular hourly wage plus at least 35%.
Nighttime Overtime (Article 85)
Formula: Basic Wage + 70% premium
Overtime worked during nighttime hours is paid at regular hourly wage plus at least 70%.
Industry Shift Recommendations
IT Outsourcing & Call Centers
Shift compression to 6 hours or flexible remote work
Shifting international customer support teams to remote work reduces extreme commuting stress during peak Cairo rush hours preceding Iftar.
