Midday break: UAE plans 60,000 inspections

Staff Writer

8 years ago

Government officials in the UAE will conduct 60,000 inspections to ensure companies comply with the midday break rule, it was reported.

The three-month summer rule, which will start on June 16, curbs most construction work under direct sunlight during the hottest times of day.

Violations will be electronically reported directly from construction sites, according to a report in The National. There will be 10,000 inspections in Dubai alone, the newspaper said, quoting its Arabic-language sister newspaper.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said earlier that the break would apply from 12.30pm to 3pm daily until September 16.

Employers violating the rule will be fined AED5,000 ($1,361) per person found working during the break hours, up to a maximum of AED50,000 where a large number of workers is involved. Companies also face being downgraded or having their operations suspended.

This year marks the 12th consecutive year that the midday break has been in force.

The midday break ruling also requires employers to post a clear schedule informing workers of their daily working hours during the summer period, and provide shelter for them during the resting periods.

In exceptional cases, work will be allowed to continue during the break times, but only for technical reasons.

In 2015, the tasks excluded from the midday ban included: Work on mix-asphalt poured concretes when it is impossible to implement or supplement the necessary work in one day; doing work to prevent expected danger, reparation, damage, malfunction or loss; and also emergency work, including cutting lines, water supply, sewerage, electricity and cutting off traffic or blocking public roads in addition to cut gas pipelines or petroleum flow.