Al Marri calls for construction site checks to intensify

A senior Dubai official has called on labour welfare teams to intensify their inspections of construction sites in the emirate to ensure workers are being treated properly during the summer months.

Major General Mohammed Al Marri, the director general of the Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Dubai (DNRD) and the chairman of the Labour welfare committee, hailed efforts made by the UAE to protect the rights of workers.

He said the measures in place were already "formidable", adding "the guaranteeing of the workers rights derives prime importance in the ethical and cultural code of the country".

He asked the inspectors to intensify inspections to "ensure that the ministerial rule is implemented in letter and spirit".

Following a meeting with the inspectors on Wednesday, Al Marri hailed their efforts in ensuring the adherence of firms to the midday break rule, news agency WAM reported.

Al Marri said that the ordinance of the Labour Ministry to stop work at all work sites exposed to sun from 12.30 until 3pm from 1st July until the end of August was "yet another expression of UAE's commitment to respect the workers' rights and ensure their welfare providing them suitable work environment as per the global standards".

Last week, Arabian Business reported how the number of firms found violating the UAE’s midday outdoor working ban had increased by 34 percent in July compared to the same month the previous year.

Official figures released by the UAE Ministry of Labour (MoL) on Wednesday revealed 335 firms broke the summertime working ban last month. This compared with 249 in July 2008.

In Dubai there was a 312 percent increase in the number of firms violating the ban, which prevents outside working between the hours of 12.30pm and 3pm.

Only 17 firms were found to be breaking the rules in July 2008, but this number rose to 70 the same month in 2009.

The midday work ban in the UAE is effective from July 1 through to August 31 inclusive.

Firms caught violating the ban face a fine of up to $2,700 (AED10,000) for each member of staff caught working in the sun.

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