SCOTTISH employers are being warned to be aware of the implications of Ramadan to protect themselves against claims of religious discrimination or harassment.

Ramadan began earlier this month and continues until August 10, and means Muslims workers may be fasting during daylight hours and may pray more frequently than usual.

Lawyers have urged employers to make allowances during this period as they may risk having a claim raised against them under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on religious grounds.

Paying attention to the special circumstances muslim workers may observe will also produced better feeling in the workplace.

Sarah Chilton, head of employment at Edinburgh-based law firm Murray Beith Murray said: "Living and working in Scotland, we are all working with people who hold many different religious beliefs, even if as an employer you perhaps do not know much about the religious beliefs of your workers."

"Employers cannot treat someone of one religion less favourably than someone of another religion, or someone who does not hold any religious belief."

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Scotland agreed with the advice and said employers should familiarise themselves with guidance from the Muslim Council of Britain.