OFWs ‘dread’ longer workdays during Ramadan

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam, is a time of fasting, prayer and reflection observed by millions of Muslims worldwide. This religious occasion brings significant changes to the routines of those residing in the Middle East, affecting work schedules, business hours and social activities.

For overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), however, this month-long occasion is often the most challenging period of the year as many OFWs, especially domestic helpers, endure longer working hours and physically demanding tasks, depending on their employers.

Annalyn, a 53-year-old domestic worker based in Riyadh for nearly two years, knows this experience firsthand. In an interview on 3 March, she disclosed that since the start of Ramadan, she and four other domestic helpers begin their day as early as 6 a.m., cleaning their employer’s home and doing laundry.

By around 2 p.m., they start preparing the family’s meals.

“Since 1 March, we’ve been continuously making bread and preparing Arabic coffee,” she said.

During Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before fasting, Annalyn said that they mostly eat chicken and rice to sustain themselves throughout the day.

This is followed by Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, which begins with water and is followed by a full spread, often including a lamb-based dish, kuboos (Arabic bread), and sometimes a post-Iftar snack around 8 p.m. This cycle repeats daily throughout Ramadan.

“We get a bit of rest after Suhoor, but our day usually ends around 4 a.m.,” she narrated.

On social media platforms like Facebook, OFW groups have been exchanging well wishes since late February, checking in on one another through public posts. Many Filipinos, however, express physical exhaustion.

“These are really the days when everything doubles for OFWs, especially those serving large families,” said Nieza Tunacao, another OFW. “Aside from double the work in cooking different dishes, there’s also double the dishes to wash, and even more so, double the effort in staying up late at night.”

Like Annalyn, Tunacao also stressed the difficulty of having shorter rest hours. Yet, despite the long hours of work, Annalyn highlighted the deep devotion of Muslims to their faith and encouraged Filipino workers, especially first-time workers, to approach their work with an understanding of a country’s religious practices.