Date set for start of midday break in UAE

Abu Dhabi: The mandatory midday break for people working under the sun during the summer months will begin from June 15 across the country, the Ministry of Labour (MoL) announced in a statement yesterday.

As part of this midday break, workers are banned from working under the sun or in exposed outdoor areas between 12.30 and 3pm.

The daily break will be enforced from June 15 to September 15, the MoL statement added. Companies found violating the midday break rule within this three-month period will be fined Dh15,000 in each instance.

The decision, which was issued by Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, also requires companies and employers to provide adequate rest areas that are protected from the heat during the break for workers. Enough water, salt and lemons must also be provided to safeguard workers' health.

During the break period, MoL officials will also regularly visit worksites to raise awareness about working safely in the heat among employers and workers.

Inspectors from the MoL will inspect worksites on a regular basis as well in order to ensure compliance with the rule.

Under the MoL decision, employers must additionally ensure the provision of artificial cooling systems, shading and enough water and nutrients in case outdoor work cannot be halted for technical reasons between 12.30 and 3pm.

Mubarak Al Daheri, a MoL official said there had been widespread compliance with the midday break rule in previous years. The rule has been implemented since 2004.

Overtime rates

"The heat may still be bearable in May, but temperatures really soar during June and July," H.R., a 25-year-old worker from South East Asia, told Gulf News.

"Working during midday hours really drains us of our energy, and this extended break we get in summer is really necessary to preserve our strength. Moreover, fasting will also be made easier, especially because Ramadan is coming up at the peak of summer this year," said H.R., who has been working as a painter in the capital for four years.

The MoL statement also said workers cannot be compelled to work more than eight hours a day unless additional hours are compensated at overtime rates, as per Union Law No 8 of 1980. In addition, it called upon employers to visibly display working hours at worksites in both Arabic and in languages understood by the workers.