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ABU DHABI / WAM
Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, visited one of the construction sites in Abu Dhabi to ensure the optimal implementation of the midday break – a ban on outdoor work between 12:30 and 15:00, which started on Wednesday and will continue until September 15.
During his visit, Dr Al Awar stressed that the UAE has always been a pioneer in its humanitarian mission and has accorded significant care and attention to all the residents throughout its history.
He added that labourers in the UAE have always enjoyed special attention from the wise leadership, mentioning that President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commended their efforts and their “valuable contributions and constructive role in the country’s progress”, while His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has always emphasised that “the UAE is a country and home for everyone.”
During the visit, Dr Al Awar was accompanied by Khalil Khoury, Acting Under-Secretary for Human Resources Affairs, and senior officials in the ministry.
Dr Al Awar pointed out that the midday break, which is being implemented for the 18th consecutive year, aims to protect the labourers and their health and has become a gained right as per UAE laws, and an integral part of the UAE’s work environment, which had yielded positive results in the past years aimed at improving the overall safety and wellbeing levels.
The ministry receives reports from the community members about any violation of the midday break through its call centre at 600590000, operational from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in several languages, in addition to receiving reports through the Ministry’s smart application.
Some professions and jobs are exempted from the break for technical reasons which requires work to continue uninterrupted. These include project works such as spreading the asphalt mixture or pouring concrete or other work necessary to ward off danger, repair, damage, malfunctions or accidental emergency losses, including work to repair obstruction in water supply lines, sewage lines, electric lines, or obstruction of traffic on public roads, and gas or oil pipelines.
It also excludes works whose implementation requires a permit from a competent government agency due to their impact on the flow of traffic and services, such as cutting off electricity and telecom lines.
In the event of works or tasks that for technical reasons should continue without interruption during the afternoon hours, the employer shall provide cold drinking water commensurate with the number of workers on duty, and the conditions of safety and public health should be maintained by providing hydrating food and liquid such as salt, lemon and other materials that are approved for use by the local authorities in the country. In addition, companies should keep provisions for first-aid at the work site, appropriate industrial cooling facilities and shades from direct sunlight, and providing a shaded place for workers to rest during their downtime.
An administrative fine will be imposed on establishments that violate the midday break amounting to AED 5,000 for each worker and a maximum of AED 50,000 in the case that multiple workers are working in violation of the ban.