Summer outdoor work ban begins in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The two-month outdoor afternoon work ban in Bahrain will be in effect starting today until the end of August.

This is in accordance with the ministerial edict 39/ 2013, which bans outdoor work between 12 noon and 4 pm during the summer period, which witnesses a rise in temperature and an increase in humidity.

Afternoon temperatures in July average 40°C (104 °F) and can reach 46 °C (114.8 °F) in August, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Meteorological Directorate.

Bahrain will enforce the annual ban to safeguard workers’ health, ensure their safety against heat exhaustion and sunstroke, prevent summer-related diseases, and enhance productivity.

This also helps in reducing occupational incidents in view of the increasing temperatures and humidity and is in line with Bahrain’s commitment to human rights principles, especially regarding the need to provide a secure and healthy work environment.

The Labour and Social Development Ministry said yesterday that all preparations have been made to ensure the strict implementation of the summer outdoor work ban which was first introduced in Bahrain in 2007.

Minister Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan called on employers to implement the decision, affirming that Bahrain is a leader in ensuring a secure and safe work environment for workers, out of its keenness on their safety and health at various production sites. He noted that the implementation of an outdoor afternoon work ban is the best means to achieve that goal.

 Awareness campaign

The Labour Ministry has embarked on an awareness campaign, urging employers and workers to comply with the provisions of the edict.

It also held a virtual workshop to inform private sector institutions’ health and safety supervisors about the requirements to protect workers from summer-related diseases and occupational accidents.

Humaidan also called on private institutions to step up their efforts to raise workers’ awareness about summer diseases, highlight the risks of overworking under summer heat, provide health care and first air, as well as find ways to reduce exposure to heat and humidity.

 The Minister praised the private sector companies’ compliance with the ban over the past years, which, he said, proves the employers’ commitment to ensuring a safe and decent work environment for employees, pledging zero-tolerance against violators.

Under Article (192) of Law 36 of 2012 promulgating the Labour Law in the Private Sector, a jail term not exceeding three months, and/or a BD500- BD1,000 fine, is the penalty inflicted on violators.

Rate of compliance

Commitment rate in previous years was exemplary, with at least 98% of firms complying with the summer ban, according to the Labour Ministry. Last year, the rate of compliance has reached 99.7%.

According to Humaidan, the growing rate of compliance with the edict reflects the prestigious status enjoyed by Bahrain in the field of human rights respect, especially those of workers participating in its nation-building and development march.

 The Ministry’s specialised teams had carried out 13,658 surprise and regular inspection visits to work sites during the two-month ban and had reported violations at 30 establishments concerning 42 workers. Legal action was taken against all the violators.