Contractors hail extended midday break as summer approaches

Abu Dhabi: The UAE government's decision to extend the summer midday working break by a month from June 15 to September 15 has been welcomed by major contractors.

"I think it's an excellent idea with the increased wellbeing of the workers in mind, as long as everyone complies with it," said Riad Kamal, chairman of Arabtec Construction.

The main concern among contractors is the failure of their competitors to adhere to the directive giving them an advantage over others.

"It is not a bad idea at all, it affects all contractors equally. We can programme our work around it. We're always concerned about the wellbeing of our workers," said Laurie Voyer, CEO and managing director, Al Habtoor Leighton Group.

Most contractors have been respecting the midday working break between 12.30 and 3pm during July and August on construction sites, introduced several years ago.

However, the government inspected, downgraded and fined hundreds of violators over the last couple of years, not an easy task during the boom and hundreds were caught.

Conditions

Johan Beerlandt, chief executive officer of Besix, which was involved in building the Burj Khalifa, welcomed the new directive, calling for workers' living conditions to be constantly improved in general.

"We will get as much work done in six hours than the workers dragging their feet in the heat for ten hours."

He lauded the UAE for improving the workers' lot over the last couple of years and reckons the world crisis slowing things may just assist the latest move.

"When the market was overheated it was difficult to cope, now we're back to reality and it allows for even stricter regulations to take foothold."

Despite the general slowdown in Dubai's construction industry, developers who are still at work have no time to lose.

"Clients still want to get their project completed fast, which we can do. We'll just work around those hours. We can start earlier and work later," Kamal said.

Contractors don't seem to be concerned that it could slow productivity.

Construction workers these days tend to work an eight to nine hour day and work five and a half days a week, compared to plenty of overtime during the boom, said Beerlandt.

"There simply is less work around, so workers are also prepared to work for less."