A Muslim man bows in prayer at Salam Mosque on Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City’s Barangay Culiat before the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. INQUIRER.NET / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
COTABATO CITY – As Ramadan started, offices at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) began implementing a modified work schedule for Muslim officials and employees observing the fast.
Interim Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim earlier issued the memorandum modifying the working hours of fasting officials and employees from 7:30 am to 3:30 p.m.
Non-Muslim officials and employees would follow the usual working hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The flexible working hours for the month of Ramadan shall be allowed to Muslim officials and employees who will observe fasting during the period,” Murad’s memorandum said.
“There shall be no diminution in the 40-hour work week required under the Civil Service Law and Rules under this modified working hours,” he added.
Murad said that during Friday congregation, Muslims would be excused from work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“After the celebration of Eid’l Fitr (end of fasting), the employees or officials shall “ipso facto” revert to their respective regular working hours,” Murad said in his memorandum released on May 4.
Fasting starts before the break of dawn on May 6, 2019, and will end on the eve of June 5, 2019.
Ramadan is usually observed for 29 or 30 days. The end date will be announced by the Darul Ifta (House of Opinion) based in Cotabato City after consultation with other moon-sighting committees in Saudi Arabia when the sighting of the crescent moon signals the start of Eid Al Fitr. /cbb