Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Subah Salem Al Dossari announced that the ministry will begin as of first of July activating the ministerial order on the prohibition of working during noon time for labourers, from 12 noon to four pm during the months of July and August.
Al Dossari said that Ministerial Order No. (24) for the year 2007, on the prevention of working during noon time for workers in the construction sector under the sun and in open spaces from 12 to 1600 hours during the summer, which will enter its fifth year, achieved its objective.
He added that the order was issued four years ago to protect this segment of workers, in particular those working in the construction, building and contracting sector at noon during the summer season, where the country is witnessing high air temperatures and humidity which may expose those workers to risks due to heat stress, heat stroke and falling during carrying out their works. He stressed that the Ministry of Labour and in order to protect workers will not relent in the inspection of employers to stop any violation to the order during the period of prohibition in the various work sites at noon and in open spaces.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour confirmed that the application of the order by the ministry was welcomed by employers in these sectors and their workers, and said that it reflected the commitment of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the international conventions in this framework and adherence to standards for the protection of workers at work to secure safe and healthy work environment for them. He also said that this gave Bahrain good reputation and appreciation of all Arab and international organizations specialized in this regard in line with international conventions and human rights laws.
Al Dossari of noted that the labour sector in the ministry has prepared a plan for a campaign that would include inspection visits to work sites for the facilities where the order is applied in the different areas of Bahrain in order to ascertain the extent of commitment to implement the order to provide the necessary protection for workers at their work sites from the blows of the sun and heat stress, which workers may be exposed to during the restriction period due to heat and high humidity, which could put the lives of workers at risk. He called on all establishments to comply with the decision, as well as providing the needful to avoid occupational accidents in such times of the summer, drawing attention to that employers must Provide workers with quantities of cool drinking water, helmets, gloves and shoes, as well as installing a poster at the work site showing working hours in a language understood by workers.
Order No. (24) of 2007 provides for the prohibition of working for workers in the construction sector whom their work nature requires them to work under the sun and in open spaces during the period between 12 to 4 pm during the months of July and August of each year. The Ministry of Labour is entitled to take all legal actions against companies that violate the resolution, where reports are referred to the Attorney General. The amount of the fine ranges between BD50 to BD300 for the violation. The offense multiplies according to the multiplicity of workers present on-site.