UAE MoL: 9% of construction firms break midday ban

Sharjah had the lowest rate of offending companies

By Andy Sambidge

Nine percent of UAE construction companies inspected by Ministry of Labour teams have been found violating the midday break rules, latest figures released on Tuesday showed.

From July 1 to August 16, a total of 553 firms were found to be breaking the law, which prevents outside working between the hours of 12.30pm and 3pm.

A total of 5,930 site visits have so far been carried out and Dubai was recognised as the worst offending emirate with 12 percent of companies violating the work ban.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

Official figures released by the UAE Ministry of Labour (MoL) that Sharjah companies were the best behaving with less than two percent (26 out of 1350 visits) finding the law being broken.

In the UAE capital, 92 companies were caught breaking the midday break rule out of a total of 811 visits by inspectors.

The midday work ban in the UAE is effective from July 1 through to August 31 inclusive.

Firms caught violating the ban face a fine of up to $2,700 (AED10,000) for each member of staff caught working in the sun.

So far, 88 companies have paid a fine and 360 firms have been placed into Category C, where its applications for work permits will not be processed for a period not less than six months in addition to the fine.