Waking up early in the morning and going to work as usual is one of the hardest things to do during Ramadan, with no food or coffee to get one started in the day. Usually, both government and private sector organisations reduce working hours for their employees in Ramadan, to help them save as much energy as possible. But that is a privilege others cannot reach.
Those who work as labourers get paid daily. So they work hard during the day to provide food for their families with the money they get, and with skipping that day due to sickness, oversleeping, or even taking a holiday, means not having money for that day.
In Ramadan, the work quota does not change a lot for construction workers, as they do not have any specific working hours. The deadline for going home is simply when they finish the work they are supposed to do. This means they have to break through the thirst, hunger and burnout powers in Egypt’s hot weather to provide Iftar for their families.
Usually, they work from sunrise until afternoon for a specific amount of money, which differs upon their age and the criticality of the work they are required to complete.
With all the extra efforts some put to complete the month, Ramadan might have another face for others who face a daily struggle to feed themselves.
All Photos by Amany Kamal
