Questions & Answers
When working for a company, is the lunch break deducted from working hours?
Hello,
When working for a company, is the lunch break deducted from working hours?
If my working hours are 10 hours, does it include the break time, or is the break time calculated separately?
Break or lunchtime is not counted as part of your working hours under UAE Labour Law.
If your working hours are 10 hours per day, you must include at least one hour of unpaid break.
Be sure to check your employment contract for details of working hours and breaks.
Dear Client,
Typically, lunch breaks are not included in working hours and are deducted from the total time worked. For a 10-hour day, this usually means 9 to 9.5 hours of paid work time, with a 30-minute to 1-hour unpaid lunch break.
However, policies can vary depending on location, employer, and contract. A standard 40-hour workweek often translates to 8 hours of work plus 1 hour of unpaid lunch daily.
Some employers automatically deduct lunch breaks, which is legal if the break is taken. State laws may mandate unpaid meal breaks for longer shifts.
If you work through lunch, you must be paid for that time. Always clarify specific policies with your employer or HR department.
Thank you!
ABDUL WAHIED
Hello,
Under the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 18 stipulates that an employee must not work for more than five consecutive hours without being granted a break for rest, food, or prayer.
These breaks must not be less than one hour in total. Importantly, the law specifies that break times are not considered part of the actual working hours.
If your workday is 10 hours, the break time should be separate and not included in those 10 working hours. For example, if your shift is from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and includes a one-hour lunch break, your actual working time would be nine hours, and the one-hour break is excluded from your total working hours calculation.
Article (17): Working Hours
1. The maximum regular working hours for workers shall be eight (8) hours per day or forty-eight (48) hours per week.
2. The Cabinet, upon the proposal of the Minister and in coordination with the relevant authorities, may increase or reduce daily working hours for certain economic sectors or categories of workers. This includes determining work and rest schedules, as well as the hours during which work is prohibited for specific categories of workers, in accordance with the classification of workers specified in the executive regulations of this Decree-Law.
3. Periods spent by workers commuting between their residence and workplace shall not be counted as part of working hours, except for specific categories of workers under the conditions stipulated in the executive regulations of this Decree-Law.
4. The executive regulations of this Decree-Law shall determine working hours during the month of Ramadan.
5. If a worker is employed under a non-full-time work system, the primary employer or any other employer engaging the worker under the provisions of this Decree-Law may not require the worker to work more than the hours agreed upon in the employment contract unless the worker provides written consent.
6. In the event a worker wishes to perform their work remotely, whether within or outside the country, and with the employer's consent, the employer may stipulate specific working hours.
Article (18): Consecutive Working Hours
A worker may not work for more than five (5) consecutive hours without a break or breaks for rest, which shall not total less than one hour. These breaks shall not be included in the calculation of working hours. Working hours and rest breaks shall be regulated in establishments operating on a shift system or for certain job categories based on their nature—such as field jobs—and in accordance with the classification of workers specified in the executive regulations of this Decree-Law.
If you need assistance verifying your employment contract terms or legal rights, feel free to contact me via phone or email. I am available to provide further clarification or legal advice.
According to UAE law, break time (such as lunch breaks) is typically deducted from working hours if the workday exceeds 6 hours.
For example, if your working hours are 10 hours, break time is calculated separately from the actual working hours.
Dear Questioner,
In most cases, lunch breaks are not counted as part of the working hours, and they are separate from the total working hours.
For example, if your total working hours are 10 hours, the lunch break (usually 1 hour) would not be included in the calculation of those 10 hours, meaning you would only be working 9 hours.
However, this can vary depending on the specific terms in your employment contract or company policies, as some companies may include the break time in the total working hours.
It is always best to refer to your contract or company's internal guidelines to confirm the exact working hours policy.
If you need further legal clarification regarding your employment contract or working hours, feel free to reach out to us.
