5.15 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Firms ignoring midday work ban risk suspension

Published
By Staff

UAE authorities will start sending out inspectors to construction sites on Wednesday to ensure compliance with a three-month midday work ban, warning that firms ignoring the rule could eventually be suspended.

The ban, extending from 12:30 to 3:00 pm on work days, began on Wednesday and will end on September 15 in line with a cabinet decision endorsed years ago to protect outdoor workers from sun strokes and other heat-related risks.

Over the past two days, the ministry of labour and the Abu Dhabi municipality have invited hundreds of contractors and businessmen to stress the need for them to abide by the mandatory ban from 12:30 pm to 15:30 pm. They also asked them to educate their workers about midday work risks.

“Inspector teams will be fanned out through construction sites and other open work sites to ensure all companies respect the ban,” said Abdul Aziz Zaghrab, director of the environment safety division at the Abu Dhabi municipality.

“In case they found that a company is repeating its violation of the ban, its project will be suspended until all reasons for the closure are tackled.”

Quoted by the Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum, he said that besides work stoppage during those hours, companies are also required to comply with safety rules set by the municipality and the minister of labour. These include providing cooling systems, cold water and other protection items.

“Workers are also required to heed the rule…they should not work during that period and they should always have cold water and other fluids such as lemon juice and salt…umbrellas and other protective products must also be available at work sites to guard against sun and heat strikes,” he said.

In a statement this week, the ministry of labour said it would conduct regular inspection of outdoor work sites and warned that offenders of the midday ban would be liable to stiff punitive measures.

A company caught violating the ban for the first time will be fined Dh10,000 and downgraded to a lower classification. The ministry will also suspend work permits for that firm for six months.

In case the offence is repeated, the company will be fined Dh15,000, downgraded and have its work permits frozen for nine months.

A firm violating the ban for the third time will be fined Dh20,000, downgraded and have its work permits halted for at least one year.