UAE midday work ban penalties unveiled

Labourers in UAE may not work between 12:30pm-3:00pm this summer.

UAE Labour Minister Saqr Al Ghobash has announced details of the penalties that will be issued to companies that contravene the midday work ban this summer.

First time offenders will have see their firm 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.

The ban will take affect between the hours of 12:30pm and 3:00pm from July 1 through to August 31 inclusive.

Third time offenders have no work permits processed for a year, and will be fined $8200.

The instructions, issued via a ministerial order, also cover daily working hours and overtime payments.

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“The resolution sets the daily working time at eight hours in the morning or night shifts,” the order said, “and any extra time within 24 hours the worker stays at [the] work site should be calculated as payable overtime as per the labour law.”

Employers are instructed to provide a shaded area for workers to rest in during the mid-day break.

The resolution also states that employers must post adequate notice of daily work timings “at an obvious place at the work site and provide adequate preventive methods to protect workers from work injuries.”

Works which must continue for technical reasons are exempt from the ban, though the order said “employers are demanded to provide all facilities that cater for the health of workers including first aid, air-conditioners, sunshades and cold water.”

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