Non-Muslim workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia face drastic punishments, including deportation and sacking, if they are found breaking the Ramadan fast during daylight hours, the Ministry of Interior has warned.
In a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said that those who violated regulations would have to face severe consequences as eating and drinking during daylight hours was an ‘embarrassment to Muslims.’
“The non-Muslim expatriates in this country should respect the sentiments of Muslims by not eating, drinking and smoking in public places, including roads and workplaces,” the ministry said. 
“Being a non-believer of Islam does not exempt an expatriate from being inconsiderate of the feelings of Muslims and the Islamic symbols of this country,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the ministry said that it hoped that workers would honour the terms of their contracts, which stipulate that residents of the country should follow the laws of the Kingdom, including respecting religious sentiments.
Companies and establishments have been instructed to inform their employees of these rules.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Civil Service and the Ministry of Labour have set the working hours of the public and private sector to five and six hours respectively during the Holy Month.
The Kingdom already has a mid-day work ban in place for the high temperature summer months.
