Recently, Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi issued a decree clarifying the rights of individuals working night shifts in various commercial establishments.

The decree aimed to spell out a detailed mechanism for such workers to ensure their rights were not violated in any way.

Depending on the nature of the work, normal working hours begin at 6 a.m. and last until 11 p.m. In legal parlance, this duration is called the base hours.

On the other hand, a night shift starts at 11 p.m. and continues until 6 a.m.

Workers who spend at least three hours working during the hours specified for the night shift also fall under the definition of night workers.

As per Saudi laws, those who are not medically fit cannot be forced to work night shifts. Such individuals are required to be transferred to normal shifts of the same duration.

However, these individuals need to produce a health certificate indicating the medical reasons making them unfit to work night shifts. Women are exempted from night shifts during their pregnancy, 24 weeks before delivering a child and even after that if night work, in any way, affects a woman’s health or her child’s well-being.

Another important point that should be noted is that working hours and breaks should be properly regulated during the day so that an employee does not have to work for more than five consecutive hours. Employees are entitled to breaks for prayers or food for no less than 30 minutes. These breaks are included in the total working hours. This is done to ensure that a worker does not stay in the workplace for more than 12 hours a day. It is also important to note that, legally, it is not permissible to employ a worker for more than eight hours per day.

Normal working hours are reduced for Muslims during the month of Ramadan so that they do not exceed six hours a day or 36 hours a week.

It is also permissible to increase working hours (overtime) to nine hours per day for some categories of workers or in some industries and businesses in which the worker does not work continuously. This time may also be reduced to seven hours per day for some categories of workers or in some dangerous or harmful industries and jobs. The recent ministerial decree clearly mentions these categories of workers and industries.

There are laws protecting the rights of employees working night shifts. Since these hours are against the natural cycle, employers are required to take necessary precautions to ensure the health of their employees working at night. Such measures should be announced and displayed at a prominent place in the facility, in Arabic and other languages that employees can easily understand.

Employers cannot deduct from their employees’ dues for any extra provisions they supply during night shifts.

• Dimah Talal Alsharif is a Saudi lawyer and legal consultant. Twitter: @dimah_alsharif