4 mid-day break rule violations registered

dubai — Four violations of the mid-day break rule have been registered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), from among 40 complaints lodged against various companies this year.

As per the UAE law, construction companies were barred from asking their workers to work in the open from 12.30pm to 3pm from June 15 to September 15.

Companies found to be violating the mid-day break rule is fined Dh5,000 per worker, the company’s file with the ministry is suspended, and its ranking in the classification system is lowered. The penalty is decided based on the seriousness of the violations.

Maher Al Obad, assistant undersecretary of the MoHRE for inspection affairs, said 22 reports were filed through the ministry’s call centre; 14 other reports lodged by the operators of Taqyeem service; and four reports were received by the ministry’s customer happiness centre.

He said the inspection teams have verified the authenticity of the complaints and transferred their reports to the concerned panel, which approved only four.

“The results of the mid-day break rule, which has been applied by the ministry for the 14th consecutive year, has proved that the private sector and Emirati society are well aware of the decision that bans work under the sun in summer,” Al Obad added.

The rule, he said, aims to provide workers with more secure and safer work environment and help them avoid exposure to the direct rays of the sun during the noon time when temperature gets higher in summer.