Midday work ban starts today

Manama : The annual midday ban on outdoor work will begin today and continue until August 31, officials announced. Violators will be subjected to penalties of not more than three months of imprisonment or fines between BD500 and BD1,000.

Labour and Social Development Ministry yesterday called on businesse with outdoor work sites to be committed to the ban, and provide all means to protect workers from potential summer diseases.

They were also requested to adjust their working hours during the noon to 4pm ban to ensure projects and business were not affected. The ministry said it had finalised the preparations to oversee the implementation of the ban. It has also launched an awareness campaign informing business owners and workers about summer diseases.

The Ministry added, “According to Article 192 of Law 36/2012 promulgating the Labour Law in the Private Sector, violators of the summer outdoor work ban will face legal action including up to three months in prison and/or fines between BD500 and BD1,000, for each worker found working outdoors by inspectors.”

DT News reported last year that 98.3pc of the establishments in Bahrain was committed to the decision. 

Labour and Social Development Ministry Undersecretary Sabah Al Dossary told DT News then that the Ministry conducted 13,915 inspection visits to outdoor worksites. The visits resulted in issuing fines against 230 companies in the private sector, after finding 548 labourers violating the law.