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29 March 2024

No exemption from mid-day break rule, firms told

Outdoor work must be stopped between 12.30pm and 3.00pm during summer. (FILE)

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The Ministry of Labour will not exempt any employer from paying the stipulated fine for violating the mid-day break rule.

During the Ministry’s Open Day held weekly on Thursday at its premises in Dubai, Eisa Al Zarooni, Director of Labour Inspection Department, told a company owner that he has to pay the fine as there was no exemption and no excuse for not knowing the rule of stopping work between 12.30pm and 3.00pm during summer. It is just not acceptable, it said.

The other issues discussed included a labour card expiry case. A worker whose labour card had expired four years ago approached the ministry soliciting a solution and allowing him to renew his card.

Upon examining his case, Al Zarooni found that the worker stayed on illegally without approaching the authorities to rectify his resential status.

As per Article No. 707 of the UAE Labour Law, the visa of any expatriate worker who does not work for three consecutive months should be cancelled and his status rectified.

The propreitor of a company complained to the ministry about Dubai Municipality disconnecting water and electricity supplies to his premises alleging unauthorised alternations made to the building's balcony.

He said problem should be addressed to the building's owner.

The ministry decided that the problem should be closely investigated by the inspection department which will soon prepare a report.

On an application made by a company owner regarding fines for delaying the renewal of his employees’ labour cards, the ministry decided to ask its Labour Inspection Department to investigate.

As per rules, the employer has to pay Dh5,000 per year as penalty for failing to renew each labour card.

The ministry did not allow a company owner from assigning its representative to process transactions with the ministry for another company.

Al Zarooni stressed that the ministry’s regulations insisted that each company should have its own Emirati Public Relation Officer (PRO).

Only during the summer months is an exemption allowed, when expatriate PROs could substitute the Emiratis who would be on vacations.

The ministry turned down a request made by an employee for issuing him a new work permit since the Labour Court had banned him from seeking a sponsorship transfer. The plea was turned down the request based on the fact that the worker did not complete three years with his current employer.

The ministry has been organising the Open Day since four years.

It hears workers and employers’ problems and queries every Monday in Abu Dhabi.