Midday work ban 'violated' in UAE, Bahrain
The midday work ban imposed in Gulf nations to protect labourers from being forced to work in the sweltering summer heat is being flouted by many companies.
By PTI |
DUBAI: The midday work ban imposed in Gulf nations to protect labourers from being forced to work in the sweltering summer heat is being flouted by many companies, reports said.
The UAE, Bahrain and Qatar have implemented the law, which bans people from working outdoors between noon and 4 pm in July and August, when temperature hovers over 40 degrees Celsius.
In Bahrain, about 25 per cent of companies inspected by the Ministry of Labour failed to comply with the ban, which came into force from July 1, an official said.
"The total number of workers who were forced to work outdoors during banned hours was 190," Labour Ministry labour relations director Shaikha Hanan bint Hassan Al Khalifa, was quoted.
"About 100 of them were found working at one site, for one company," she said, adding, "companies found flouting the law will be prosecuted".
Firms that break the law are fined BD 50 to BD 300 (1 BHD = 2.6 USD) for each worker involved.
Shaikha Hanan said 40 labour and safety inspectors are being deployed to ensure that henceforth companies comply with the midday work ban to protect the health of their workers.
Meanwhile, in the UAE, 24 companies were found violating the midday break rule for outdoor workers, the inspection campaign that began on July 1 found.
Yosuf Obeid Al Za'aby of the Inspection Department of the Al Ain Labour Office of UAE said majority of the firms caught flouting the rule are contracting and construction companies. "Carpentry shops come next," he added.
The UAE, Bahrain and Qatar have implemented the law, which bans people from working outdoors between noon and 4 pm in July and August, when temperature hovers over 40 degrees Celsius.
In Bahrain, about 25 per cent of companies inspected by the Ministry of Labour failed to comply with the ban, which came into force from July 1, an official said.
"The total number of workers who were forced to work outdoors during banned hours was 190," Labour Ministry labour relations director Shaikha Hanan bint Hassan Al Khalifa, was quoted.
"About 100 of them were found working at one site, for one company," she said, adding, "companies found flouting the law will be prosecuted".
Firms that break the law are fined BD 50 to BD 300 (1 BHD = 2.6 USD) for each worker involved.
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Shaikha Hanan said 40 labour and safety inspectors are being deployed to ensure that henceforth companies comply with the midday work ban to protect the health of their workers.
Meanwhile, in the UAE, 24 companies were found violating the midday break rule for outdoor workers, the inspection campaign that began on July 1 found.
Yosuf Obeid Al Za'aby of the Inspection Department of the Al Ain Labour Office of UAE said majority of the firms caught flouting the rule are contracting and construction companies. "Carpentry shops come next," he added.
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