43% call for rethink on midday ban

MIDDAY BAN: Our poll reveals support for a rethink on hours worked by labourers during the summer. (Getty Images)

Gulf countries should rethink their policy regarding the hours worked by construction labourers during the summer, according to the results of an Arabian Business poll.

The UAE Ministry of Labour launched its summer work ban in June, with all outdoor labourers banned from work from 12:30pm to 3pm during July .

But 43 percent of respondents to our poll on Thursday believe governments in the region should stop all construction work during the day during these two months and let labourers work during the evenings and overnight. Another 35 percent of people thought the midday ban should be extended.

But 22 percent of people who took part in our poll had little sympathy for the workers. Of those, 13 percent thought the current midday ban of two-and-a-half hours was sufficient to keep them safe in the sun while another nine percent said labourers knew the rules when they signed up for the job so why should the rules change.

The poll results follow one of the hottest weeks for years in the UAE with temperatures of over 50C recorded and more than 50 people needing hospital treatment due to heat-related illnesses.

Under the summer laws, companies that do not provide a shaded rest place for their workers on site during the midday break will also be penalised. More than 600 out of 7,070 inspected UAE firms across were caught violating the rules in 2007, according to Ministry of Labour statistics.

And this year, more than 20 companies in Al Ain are facing legal action after they were found flouting the midday break rule for outdoor workers during the first week of inspection.

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USER COMMENTS (2 COMMENTS)

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Put yourself in their shoes
Posted by ProudlySA on Sunday 20 July 2008 at 09:07 UAE time

Agree with Gloryb. If you are desperate you will accept any job but that doesn't mean you do not have to sympathise. If we have cosy jobs, we should should feel privileged and appreciate it - had our circumstances been different we could have also been those labourers.

Midday Ban Feedback
Posted by Gloryb, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Saturday 19 July 2008 at 17:56 UAE time


I wonder how many of those who were questioned were actually workers who toil in the sun. Not many I would guess. To those 22% who had no sympathy, I would say - try it yourself and see if you would work in those conditions

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