Bahrain and Qatar crackdown on work ban violators

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Both Qatar and Bahrain have vowed to crackdown on companies breaking midday work bans in each of the countries, officials said yesterday.

Bahrain’s Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi yesterday said that the government had a zero tolerance policy on companies which flouted the two-month ban on outdoor work between noon and 4 pm. The ban came in to effect on July 1.

"Legal action will be taken against violators - whether companies or individuals, and their cases will be referred to the court," Al Alawi told the Gulf Daily News.

Companies who ignore the ban could be fined between BHD50 to BHD300 (AED490-3,000) for every staff member found working during the times stipulated.

Al Alawi also said that the ban had cut heat-related worksite accidents by 90%, and that the government was keen to improve on that.

In Qatar, Acting Director of the Labour Inspection Department, Khaled al-Ghanim, said that his department had recently stepped up its efforts to police the ban, in effect between 11.30am and 3pm until August 31.

“We have intensified our inspection efforts to enforce the rule and found the most of the companies are in compliance with the ministerial decision,” al-Ghanim told the Gulf Times.

This year, the department has almost doubled the number of inspectors it employs: 50 fresh recruits joined the 70 already working for the department, and there are plans to train and recruit more.

“To keep pace with the growing number of companies and workers in Qatar, we keep looking for more inspectors to join us,” he added.