No place to escape from searing sun

Dubai: The summer midday break took effect yesterday but many workers said it did not offer respite from the soaring heat.

They said although a break has been enforced they do not have an appropriate place to rest.

Some other workers were happy that they got the break during the scorching heat and their companies had even provided them shade to rest.

"It is a good thing to have a break but we are still sitting outside with no water or shade to protect us from the heat," said an Indian worker.

Workers were spotted everywhere in open places exposing them to the risks of the heat. Some tried to take refuge by sitting between scaffolding and wooden boards.

Others made a small tent with some wooden sticks and a cloth, while others continued to wear their hardhats to avoid sunstroke.

Not much help

"We have no option but rest under the wooden boards as we live in Sonapur and our work site is here in Al Safa. It is not practical to drive back and forth," said another Indian worker.

Other workers, whose companies have implemented a two-shift system to be in line with the midday break rule, said they had to sit for an hour waiting for their bus.

"We have to wake up at 2am to start our shift and today we had to wait more than an hour in the sun until the bus came," said an Egyptian worker.

"This is very tiring as companies are just halting work as they do not want to face penalties by the ministry but they are not paying much attention to our health," he said.

Though the majority of the companies abided by the rule on the first day of its enforcement, Gulf News spotted some labourers working.

"What is the use of this break if we do not have a place to rest?" said a worker when asked if he knew that there was a rule.

Compliance: Fujairah firms stick to ministry rule

Construction sites in Fujairah city appeared to adhere to labour regulations as many fell silent during the two-and-a-half hour rest period.

There was no repeat of scenes from last year when a number of companies ignored the directives.

- Fuad Ali, Staff Reporter