Dubai: Most companies have complied with the Ministry of Labour’s decision to give workers a midday break, with 99.6% following the rule, official statistics have shown.
The ministry announced the percentage of compliance after sending inspection teams to visit 77,552 facilities. Examinations revealed that 147 facilities have yet to commit to the ministry’s decision.
The ministry’s inspection team carried out 105, 421 field visits during midday to determine whether facilities were giving labourers a break during that time. The inspections started on July 15 and ended on September 15.
A total of 77,669 visits were carried out to ensure the level of commitment to the decision while 27,752 visits took place to raise the level of awareness in these establishments.
Mubarak Saeed Al Daheri, Undersecretary at the ministry, said employers seem to be much more aware of the importance of providing a safe and decent work environment for labourers.
“The decision aims at reducing the dangers that workers are subject to when working under the sun,” Al Daheri said, “Employers’ level of cooperation and commitment has increased when comparing it to the last ten years since we launched the ban.”
“The inspection team records everything through photographs and video,” he said, “and if a facility is caught breaking the law, they are subject to a fine of Dh15,000 per case,” he added.
A total of 17,155 inspection visits took place in Abu Dhabi, 26,608 in Dubai, 8,186 in Sharjah, 10,154 In Ajman, 3,264 in Ras Al Khaimah, 6,038 in Umm Al Quwain and 6,117 in Fujairah.
