Saudi issues summer midday work ban

Summer midday work ban from 2011

During the months of July and August, companies will be prevented from making employees work outside from midday until 3pm, according to Arab News.

Saudi's Minister of Labour, Dr. Ghazi Al-Ghosaibi issued the ministerial decree earlier this week and announced that companies which do not comply with the new law will face fines and/or closure. The commencement date for the summer midday work ban has been set for next year in order to give businesses enough time to prepare themselves for the changes.  

The summer midday work ban will not, however, apply to all companies. Those working in the petroleum and gas industries will be exempt from the ban, along with anyone who carries out emergency maintenance and repairs.

The Ministry of Labour has stated though that measures will be taken to protect these workers from the blistering heat of the sun which can reach highs of 50 degrees celsius during the summer. 

"The ministry is keen to protect all workers - both Saudis and expatriates - who work under the direct heat of the sun from health problems that might be caused by the sun, especially in the summer months," said Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid, Saudi's Deputy Minister of Labour.

Saudi Arabia catches up with region

The move brings Saudi Arabia into line with summer midday work ban practices adopted throughout the GCC: across the rest of the region, all countries have implemented some variation on the summer midday work ban. 

The UAE has recently extended its summer midday work ban from one month to three months and will now run from June 15 until September 15. Any companies who fail to adhere to the ban are fined 10,000 AED (US$2,722), which rises to 20,000 AED for a second violation and 30,000 AED for a third infringement.

A spokeswomen for the UAE's Ministry of Labour said that the decision to extend the summer midday work ban came "after extensive talks among the labour ministry, private sector and construction sector" and asserted that "the decision will protect the rights of workers and at the same time will not damage the interests of business."

Hundreds of thousands of labourers are employed in the Gulf states and the vast majority of those working in the construction sector originate from Asia and work under a controversial sponsorship system, which has been fervently criticised by Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who, after visiting countries in the GCC said that the system "rigidly binds migrants to their employers, enabling the latter to commit abuses, while preventing workers from changing jobs or leaving the country."

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