New midday work bans to begin next month
by Jamie Stewart
Next month, Bahrain and the UAE will reinstate summer midday work bans, alongside Kuwait and Qatar, which have already begun theirs. The four countries are the only ones in the GCC that allow construction workers to down tools and escape the blistering mid day sun.
And while Saudi Arabia and Oman, which have not introduced a mid day break as yet, are under pressure from human rights organisations to do so, some industry experts feel that penalties for the UAE’s mid day work ban, which was first introduced in 2005, are too lenient.
Labour minister Saqr Al Ghobash last month announced the penalties for firms that contravene the country’s ban.
First time offenders will be downgraded to category C for a period of at least three months, and will be fined US $2700 (AED10,000).
A category C firm will not have any work permits processed for at least six months. Second time offenders will have no work permits processed for six months and will be fined $5400, while third time offenders will have no work permits processed for a year, and will be fined $8200.
“The penalties are too small,” said Abu Dhabi-based Civilco HSE manager Aju Sharfuddin. “Thousands is peanuts to big companies. It should be AED100,000 for each violation – only then will they realise.”
Besix general manager Philippe Dessoy agreed. “A 30,000 dirham fine is absolutely nothing compared to the margins within which most contractors operate,” he said. Dessoy added that the enforcement of the penalties was more important.
UAE Ministry of Labour (MoL) acting director general Humaid Bin Deemas defended the ministry’s approach. “The goal is to instil a sense of responsibility among employers by allowing their workers to rest during the sun’s peak hours,” he said, “rather than only relying on the principle of punishment.“Some employers prefer to pay the violation instead of giving their employees their rights, and that is exactly what we are trying to prevent.”
Conditions have been unseasonably hot for the region during the past month. UAE temperatures have surged to 50.2 degrees Celsius, the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said.
Sharfuddin suggested that a toll-free number be introduced by the Ministry of Labour, allowing workers to report firms that contravene the ban without fear. And Impactt Mena senior project manager Jaana Quaintance agreed, recommending a government instigated “whistle-blowing mechanism for workers.”
Contractor’s Association vice chairman Imad Al Jamal said the ban will not have a large effect on construction productivity.
“Contractors can shift their hours around to suit these conditions,” he said. “They can work a little later or work shifts.” Employers are instructed to provide a shaded area for workers to rest in during the mid-day break. Works which must continue for technical reasons are exempt from the ban.
Quaintance highlighted the need to consider both workers and the firms in question. “Companies should give incentives to workers to be more productive in the time outside of the ban,” she said.
“This would improve output and increase workers wages. In our experience financial penalties rarely have the desired impact.”
GCC summer midday work bans effective period
Bahrain Noon – 4pm, July 1 – August 31
KUWAIT Noon – 4pm, June 1 – August 31
Qatar 11.30am – 3pm, June 15 – August 31
UAE 12.30pm – 3pm, July 1 – August 31
Source:
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/
