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PRIVACY
Manufacturing

JLR staff in row over Ramadan breaks

Workers claim some Muslims were passing out due to heat in factories run by luxury car maker

Jaguar Land Rover workers observing Ramadan at the firm's factories in the region claim they were forced to break their religious fast because the temperature on the shopfloor was so hot.

Muslim workers attempting to adhere to strict Ramadan rules say they had to take on fluid during the day which contravenes the ritual.

Other staff members say the vehicle maker had failed to allow employees to open their food at certain times because of strict protocol over breaks.

One worker, based in JLR's plant in Castle Bromwich who has asked not to be named, said: "A Muslim DHL driver nearly passed out because of the heat inside and had to have a drink of water. He was really beating himself up over it.

"Muslims are not supposed to take fluids or take any food until it gets dark but it was so hot and humid in the factory."

A Solihull-based Land Rover worker said the temperature had reached 31 degrees Celsius in the Lode Lane factory at one stage during the recent record-breaking July heatwave.

"We work hard in a factory where the temperature is over 31 degress and we asked for fans. But in the area where I work there are no fans and we were told there is no budget for them," the employee said.

"There are people fasting and the company didn't even care when he asked for a fan to cool down because he can't drink water till night falls.