Helsinki: A Danish government minister has asserted that Muslims shouldn't work during Ramadan because the month-long fasting period poses safety hazards in some professions and makes the practice "dangerous for us all."

Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg, an immigration hardliner in Denmark's centre-right government, questioned in a blog post published on Monday how "commanding observance to a 1400-year-old pillar of Islam" was compatible with modern labour markets.

In her post published by Danish tabloid BT, Stoejberg cited bus drivers as an example of workers whose performance could be affected by foregoing food and drink during daylight hours of the holy month.

She urged all Muslims in the Nordic country to take leave from work during Ramadan "to avoid negative consequences for the rest of Danish society."

Finnish Muslim Union Chairwoman Pia Jardi called the minister's suggestion "a completely absurd idea."