WARNING ON WATER AND SHADE FOR LABOURERS
140 companies flouting midday breaks but majority comply, say inspectors
Water, vitamin supplements and shelter must be made available to all outdoor workers to cope with stifling summer temperatures, the Government has told companies.
The midday break lasts until September 15, during which outdoor workers must be allowed to rest from 12.30pm to 3pm daily.
Maher Al Obed, the assistant undersecretary for inspections, yesterday told companies that workers needed the break to meet health and safety requirements.
“Temperatures are unbearable during summer in the UAE and workers need the break,” Mr Al Obed said.
More than 140 companies were found to be breaching the rule, the department said, although the majority complied.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation cautioned companies that “workers must be supplied with water at all times, as well as minerals which are approved for use by health authorities in the country. They must also be provided access to first-aid kits in addition to umbrellas”.
The ministry said that labourers should not work in open spaces during the hours deemed off-limits due to the oppressive heat, but companies involved in completing urgent projects can resume work after the mid-day break ends.
In exceptional cases when work must be continued during the midday break because of technical issues, the labour affairs assistant undersecretary, Humaid bin Deemas, asked companies to look out for the well-being of their workers.
Employers must supply workers with salt and lemon that is approved for use by health authorities, he said, and that facilities such as first aid, air-conditioners, sunshades and cold water should also be available on work sites.
The break is in its 13th year and began by giving workers a longer lunch interval for two summer months, until 2010, when the break was extended to three months – from June 15 until September 15.
Authorities say there has been a decline in the number of heat-exhaustion cases.
Last week, The National visited work sites around Dubai and Abu Dhabi and found labourers whose companies were flouting the midday break by failing to give their employees water and shade.
One worker, Termebdor Jaswan, 27, from India, described working “in unbearable heat and a low amount of water”. Others said they had no access to toilets on-site, forcing them to walk to malls.
Per government rules, daily working hours must not exceed eight hours in the day or night shift.
The ministry said that there was 99.7 per cent compliance with the rules by 53,569 companies from June 15 to date, with only 143 found to have breached them.
Companies are fined Dh5,000 per worker if they are found working during the summer break hours.
The ministry said the number of inspections per emirate were 13,375 patrols in the capital, 11,022 in Dubai, 5,073 in Sharjah, 8,047 in Ajman, 5,687 in Ras Al Khaimah, 2,728 in Umm Al Quwain and 7,780 in Fujairah.
Work that is not included in the break includes duties involving water supply, sewerage, electricity and related to traffic flow on public roads, work on gas pipelines or connected to the flow of petroleum.
Temperatures are unbearable during summer in the UAE and workers need the break