102 firms in breach of break rule

UAE companies are to pay more than Dh 1 million in fines for violating the midday break rule, Gulf News reports today.

Ministry of Labour statistics say nearly 102 companies have been caught violating the rule in Dubai and the Northern Emirates in the 13 days since it was implemented.

The rule stipulates that outdoor workers should break between 12.30 to 3pm during July and August.

Eisa Al Zarouni, deputy head of the investigation unit said “one of the companies was caught violating the rule twice and thus had to pay a Dh20,000 fine the second time.”

Al Zarouni said some workers had been found resting in residential buildings to escape the heat as their company had failed to provide them with appropriate resting places.

"Companies have to provide appropriate onsite resting rooms during the midday break or provide them transport back to the labour accommodation," he said.

Dubai accounted for 20% of the total number of violations, with the majority taking place in the Northern Emirates. The largest number was in Ajman, where 29 companies were caught, followed by Ras Al Khaimah which registered 26 cases.

All companies were downgraded to category C, with those already in category C having transactions stopped for three months.