Firm, Muslims Settle Dispute Over Prayer

A high-tech manufacturing company has resolved a dispute with Muslim employees over their right to pray at work.

Solectron Corp., based in Milpitas, Calif., and the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Tuesday announced the resolution of a dispute that began when more than 30 Muslim contract employees in Atlanta quit their jobs assembling cellular phones. They said they were not allowed to offer obligatory prayers during work breaks.

Muslims pray five times a day, and the workers, all refugees from Somalia, had asked to take two five-minute prayer breaks each shift.

Discussions between the council and company officials resulted in the reinstatement of the contract employees, compensation for back wages, a restatement of Solectron’s commitment to diversity, and a contribution to a refugee relief agency that serves the Somali community in Atlanta.

Religious accommodations include a floating break period designed to coincide with sunset prayers.