The implementation of the “noon work ban” ends on Wednesday

The end of working hours next Wednesday will witness the end of the decision to ban performing work under the sun in open places, which continued to be implemented for 92 days (since last June 15) on all open work sites in the country, while the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation attributed the success of implementing the decision and commitment. The establishments have recently used the modern monitoring systems, as well as the fruitful cooperation between the establishments and employers.

In detail, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will begin, as of next Wednesday, to suspend implementation of the decision to implement the decision to ban performing work in the sun and in open spaces from 12:30 pm to 3 pm, which has been in effect since last June 15, with the aim of protecting workers. From the risks of heat exhaustion diseases and maintaining their health and occupational safety.

The decision to prohibit performing work under the sun at noon obligates establishment owners to provide preventive means to protect workers from the dangers of injuries and occupational diseases that may occur during working hours, as well as the dangers of fire and other dangers that may result from the use of machines and other work tools, and to follow all methods. Other prevention stipulated in the Labor Law and the ministerial decisions implementing it, and it also obliges workers to follow instructions that aim to protect them from risks while performing their work duties.

The decision specifies the daily working hours in the morning and evening periods, or in either of them, at eight hours. In the event that the worker works for more than the specified eight hours during the 24-hour period, the increase is considered overtime for which the worker receives an additional wage according to the provisions of the law.

The decision also requires employers to place a schedule of daily working hours in a prominent place in the workplace in accordance with the provisions of this decision, provided that it is in the language that the worker understands in addition to Arabic, in addition to providing a shaded place for workers to rest during their period of cessation of work.

A source in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed that the state’s success in implementing the noon work ban, which ends its 17th year in a row, reflects the effectiveness of the partnership with private sector institutions, and confirms the importance of the societal role in monitoring its implementation, in an effort to uphold the humanitarian role of society and its various institutions. Especially since the mechanism for implementing the ban includes a package of preventive measures and controls aimed at protecting workers from exposure to direct sunlight and stress as a result of high temperatures and humidity, in addition to applying and implementing a set of awareness and guidance initiatives in partnership with a number of governmental and private agencies and institutions.

The source informed Emirates Today that the period of implementation of the “noon ban” decision witnessed fruitful cooperation between the ministry and a number of government and private agencies and institutions, as it included a package of events and awareness campaigns regarding the “noon ban” decision, including organizing a number of virtual educational workshops and lectures and providing medical consultations. Various topics on the dangers of heat exhaustion, how to prevent it, and ways to deal with emergency situations, in addition to distributing thousands of brochures and awareness booklets that were printed in several languages, including Arabic, English, and Urdu.

He explained that the Ministry’s inspector teams were keen to expand the scope of field visits to work sites despite the circumstances of the (Covid-19) pandemic, to educate employers and workers about the importance of the decision, in addition to organizing many lectures and workshops during which its controls and how to maintain and adhere to occupational safety and health requirements were explained.

He pointed out that the Ministry has developed an integrated plan this year to implement the decision to ban noon work from three tracks: The first aims to tighten control over work sites and control violations by deploying teams and operators of the “Taqeem” service in all the emirates of the country, to monitor establishments that violate the decision and inform the Ministry. In it, while “The Second” relied on guidance and guidance by educating employers, workers, and society in general about the importance of adhering to the decision to ban work at noon, and its major role in preserving the health and safety of workers, through implementing orientation visits to work sites in different regions of the country, and holding workshops. And lectures to provide presentations and video clips on how to implement the decision and its importance, while the final track focused on the ministry’s inspectors continuing to follow up on establishments’ compliance with precautionary and medical measures at work sites as part of their intensive oversight campaigns, in accordance with plans aimed at confronting the outbreak of the (Covid-19) pandemic and protecting workers from The virus.

He stressed that the Ministry developed innovative monitoring systems during the ban period, including activating the Rapid Crisis Response Center to receive reports received from community members about violations, and communications through the Ministry’s call center on the toll-free number 80060, in addition to the smart inspection system, appreciating the interaction of society and the private sector with The decision and its various procedures.