Midday break for workers from June 15, says ministry

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MOHRE, has excluded some works from the midday break, applicable this year between June 15 and September 15 daily from 12:30pm to 3pm.

Saif Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of Human Resources Affairs at the Ministry, said that the excluded works during banned hours includes mix asphalt poured concretes that can not be carried out or completed during the afternoon, works to prevent expected danger, reparation, damage, malfunction or loss, and also emergency work, including cutting lines, water supply, sewerage, electricity and cutting off traffic or blocking public roads, in addition to broken gas pipelines or petroleum flow hindrances.

For exception cases which require work carried out during the break periods for technical reasons, employers must supply workers with salts and lemon, which has been approved for use by health authorities in the country.

Employers must provide all facilities that cater to the health of workers, including first aid, air-conditioners, sunshades and cold water.

The ministry also enquires employers to post a clear schedule to inform workers of the daily working hours during the midday break period, plus provide them with shelter during the resting periods.

Employers are urged to provide all necessary health kits to cure workers exposed to hazards and dangerous tools regularly, in addition to being required to follow safety instructions and distribute awareness leaflets to both employers and labourers to promote such awareness.

Violators will be fined Dh5,000 per worker found working during the stated break hours, to a maximum of Dh50,000 if the case involved a large number of workers.

The company could also be downgraded and violators run the risk of being temporally closed down.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.