BARMM chief reduces work hours for fasting Muslim gov’t workers

FILE PHOTO: The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) seat of government is located in Cotabato City. Photo by Bong Sarmiento

COTABATO CITY — Workers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) can go home as early as 3:30 p.m. during the fasting month of Ramadan as ordered by its chief Minister Ahod “Kagi Murad” Ebrahim.

In his Memorandum to all BARMM Muslim civil servants, Chief Minister Ebrahim announced the modified working hours for officials and employees during the fasting month which started on Sunday, April 3, and would end on May 2.

“Muslim officials and employees who shall observe fasting during the holy month are allowed to observe flexible working hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,” Ebrahim said in his Memorandum Circular No. 0051.

He said working hours would continue during the supposed lunch break.

“After the end of Ramadhan, all officials and employees shall revert to their respective regular working hours from 8 am. to 5 p.m.,” Ebrahim’s memo said.

In his Ramadhan message, he urged all Bangsamoro people to spread love.

He also urged the public to continue observing physical distancing since the threat of the coronavirus disease *COVID-19) was still around.

“We hurdled the pandemic, I believe that time will come when this pandemic will end,” he said in vernacular.

While the fasting month is the holiest month among Muslims worldwide, it came at the peak of the election campaign for the country’s national and local elections this year.

“I hope peace will prevail during and after the local and national elections, I hope patience and understanding about our political stance will prevail,” Ebrahim said.

“Let us not allow the political season to disrupt our fasting and religious activities,” he added. “Let us not allow differences in (our political) choices (to) affect our fasting.”

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