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Dubai starts midday work break amid hot weather


The midday work break was first implemented in the United Arab Emirates in 2005 to protect workers, especially in construction sites, from heat exhaustion during the hottest month. Wikipedia photo
MANILA, Philippines - Beginning Tuesday, July 1, Dubai employers are required to provide shaded resting areas for their manual laborers during the midday work break between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Dubai’s Ministry of Labor warned that companies who fail to provide the rest areas would be penalized and fined up to Dh30, 000 (Php 367,459), online news site Gulf News reported. The midday work break was first implemented in the United Arab Emirates in 2005 to protect workers, especially in construction sites, from heat exhaustion during the hottest months of July and August. Work break in Dubai used to be between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. However, the break was later on reduced by one and a half hours (12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Workers are made to compensate for their break by working in the evening. Citing previous reports, Gulf News said that since the rule was implemented, cases of heat exhaustion in Dubai have dropped to 1,500 in 2005 from 5,000 cases a month in 2004. In 2007, there where only 82 reported cases of heat exhaustion and two deaths, the report said. One of the most common ailments during the very hot weather is heat stroke or hyperthermia. Some symptoms of heat stroke are rapid pulse, difficulty in breathing, hallucinations, disorientation, and seizure. Victims of heat stroke must immediately receive treatment to prevent organ failure that could lead to death. According to the report, first time violators of the work ban will pay Dh10,000 and suffer three months suspension of transactions. "Firms in category C will have their transactions suspended for six months," the report said. Companies who violate rules for the second time will be fined Dh20,000, and slapped with a six-month suspension. Their category will also be downgraded to C. Third time violators will be fined Dh30,000 plus a one year suspension of transaction aside from the downgrading of the company’s category to C. Bahrain’s labor ministry has also imposed a no outdoor work policy on all workers, including Filipinos, between noon and 4 pm from July to August. Companies that violate the ban are made to pay fines ranging between BD50 and BD300 for each worker exposed to the scorching heat. - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
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