Public urged to report noon work ban violations

UAE labour authorities have appealed for the public to report any violations relating to a three-month mid day work ban that was enforced on Friday at most open construction sites across the country.

The Ministry of Labour said it can be reached on free telephone number 800665 for any report on such offences, warning that violators of the decision would be fined Dh15,000 while penalties would be stiffer if the offence is repeated.

In a statement released a day before the ban took effect, the Ministry said it had formed 19 inspection teams to pay regular visits to construction sites to check compliance by the employers and their workers. It said it would organize 81 lectures and pay 80,000 visits through the ban period that ends on Sept 15.

“We call on the public to contact the Ministry on 800665 to report any violations of this rule…any one who sees labourers working at open construction sites during that period is urged to call the Ministry so it will take the necessary measures,” said Mohsen Al Nasbi, head of the labour inspection section.

The Ministry said the ban would be between 12.30-3.00 pm and start as usual from mid June to mid September to protect workers and avert job accidents and illnesses, including sun and heat strike.

Officials said all employers have been asked to provide their workers with cold water and other liquids, shaded places and first aid during the three-month summer period. It said companies which do not have shaded places must provide free transport for workers to go home during the ban period.

Most of the nearly 400,000 construction workers in the UAE are Asians, mainly from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The UAE began enforcing the mid-day summer work ban in 2005 following a spate of site accidents and illnesses caused by high desert temperatures, which could reach 50 Celsius during summer.

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