UAE to implement noon work ban from mid-June
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will be implementing the "Noon Work Ban" starting from mid-June thus prohibiting workers from staying at their jobsites from 12:30pm to 3pm.
The annual decision, issued by Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, makes it mandatory for employers to provide labourers with a shaded place to rest in during their breaks, reported state news agency Wam.
Under the decision, daily working hours, for morning, evening or both shifts, are not to exceed eight hours. If a worker exceeds these timings within 24 hours, then the extra time will be deemed overtime, for which he will have to be paid, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law concerning the Regulation of Labour Relations, it added.
The decision, however has excluded jobs where, for technical reasons, work must continue non-stop, from the specified ban, provided that employers make available adequate cool drinking water for workers and in accordance with the requirements of public safety and health, as well as thirst-quenching items, such as salts, lemon and etc., as used by the local authorities, in addition to first-aid kits in the workplace, said the report.
The order also calls for strict adherence to all Covid-19 precautionary measures.
Any establishment that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the decision shall be fined Dh5,000 per worker, and a maximum of Dh50,000 in case several workers are employed during the ban.
In addition, the breaching establishment will have its file suspended or its status downgraded in the MoHRE classification system adopted by the Ministry, based on how grave the breach is, said the Wam report.
As per the decision, employers must place a schedule of the daily working hours in a prominent site at the workplace. In addition to Arabic, the work schedule must be written in the language that workers understand, it added.
Source: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/CONS_368608.html
