UAE’s midday work ban ends on September 15

The midday work ban across the UAE will end tomorrow, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced.

During the ban period, any outdoor labour work between 12.30pm and 3pm was prohibited. The midday work break applied since June 15, was to ensure the wellbeing and safety of labourers working under direct sunlight and to protect them from heat during summer months.

#MOHRE announces the termination of the decision applied since June 15 to ban any work performed under the sun and in open spaces to secure appropriate working conditions for workers during summer as of this Wednesday, September 15. pic.twitter.com/Z6Ukj9i3KA

— MOHRE_UAE وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) September 14, 2021

During this period, MoHRE had issued several rules and procedures and organised a number of awareness activities and programmes, to ensure that workers were protected against heat exhaustion, heatstroke and the Covid-19 infection, official news agency WAM reported.

Companies responsible for works which must continue for technical reasons were exempt from the ban. Employers of exempt companies were required to provide cool drinking water in proportion with the number of workers and in accordance with the requirements of public safety and health, as well as thirst-quenching items, such as salts, lemon etc., as used by the local authorities.