Inspection teams from the Ministry of Labour have pulled up dozens of companies for breaking the midday break law this year.
Out of 27,000 visits conducted between mid-June and the end of July, inspectors reported about 30 companies for breach of the law that bans labourers from working on site between 12.30pm and 3pm.
Maher Al Obed, assistant undersecretary for inspectional affairs, said this was the 11th year the law had been implemented.
Apart from penalising erring employers, inspectors distributed brochures emphasising the importance of complying with the law. The law also calls for workers to be provided shade during the break.
Mr Al Obed said erring employers were fined Dh5,000 per worker, not exceeding Dh50,000, and risked a temporary shutdown and reduction in their classification.
“There are some exceptional cases that require continuation of work during those periods for technical reasons, but employers are obliged to provide cold drinking water, safety tools and materials, including salt, lemon and fresh salads.”
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