Minister issues warning over labourers' hours

MIDDAY BAN: Firms have been warned not to violate the UAE's midday break rule regarding construction site workers. (Getty Images)

Labourers in the UAE will be banned from working on construction sites in the UAE between 12.30 and 3pm from July 1, following a resolution issued by Minister Saqr Gobash.

The Labour Minister said the regulations regarding work during the summer season would continue until August 31.

Employers must also provide sun shades for the rest of workers during the midday break, news agency WAM reported.

The resolution sets the daily working time at eight hours in the morning or night shifts and any extra time spent on site within 24 hours should be calculated as a payable overtime - as per the labour law.

The resolution also demands employers to post the schedule of daily working timings at an obvious place at the work site and provide adequate preventive methods to protect workers from work injuries.

Regarding penalties, the resolution says that a first time offender will have his firm downgraded to category C for a period of three months at least plus a fine of AED10,000.

If the firm is on category C, its applications for work permits will not be processed for a period not less than six months in addition to the fine.

In case of the second time offender, no work permits applications will be accepted for six months and a AED20,000 fine will be issued.

For a third offence, the firms will have no work permits processed for one year and will receive a fine of AED30,000.

The resolution exempts works whose nature do not tolerate a halt in activities for technical reasons but employers are demanded to provide all facilities that cater for health being of workers including first aid, air-conditioners, sunshades and cold water.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Summer working hours for labour
Posted by Zen, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 31 May 2009 at 15:36 UAE time


Don't you think this should start in June, considering in May our temperature was already into the 40s?

Now??
Posted by AVH on Saturday 30 May 2009 at 11:28 UAE time


Too little, too late. Half these guys have gone or are being sent back anyway.

Dubious benefits...
Posted by Neil, Dubai, UAE on Saturday 30 May 2009 at 09:03 UAE time


The reality on sites during these periods is that workers are required to start earlier and finish later to ensure the same number of productive working hours are achieved.

They then get to sleep outside on the ground under whatever shade is available and do not get paid for the period of the shut down.

So, all-in-all, this is a questionable 'improvement' given that they end up having a longer day for the same pay.

Labour Jul'09 working hrs.
Posted by Sudhir, Dubai, UAE on Friday 29 May 2009 at 08:09 UAE time


It should start from Jun'09 to Aug'09. June also too much hot !!

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