The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will announce, by the end of working hours tomorrow, the termination of the ban on work performed in the sun and in open places at noon, which came into force on June 15, amid expectations that the percentage of commitment of enterprises and employers to implement the resolution will exceed the same. Than last year, which amounted to 99.7%.

A source in the ministry, who preferred not to be named, noted the increase in the commitment of employers to apply the noon ban over the past years, attributing the reasons to the new control procedures implemented by the ministry to ensure that the establishments comply with the decision, which has achieved its objectives.

The source told «Emirates Today», «during the current year 350 teams have been assigned to work to follow up the implementation of the decision of the private sector facilities that operate an evaluation service, which is concerned with providing information and estimating the workload of establishments and registration of labor housing in the system of the ministry», pointing out that the ministry Strengthened the principle of partnership with the community in monitoring the implementation of the resolution, allowing any member of the community to communicate with them through the call center on the toll free number (80060), which works 24 hours a day, seven days a week in four different languages, to report any violations and take information related to the site Violating and directing these bel AGAT through an electronic system to the nearest inspector of work from the site of the violation.

He pointed out that the fifteenth year of the implementation of the "noon ban", witnessed the introduction of an electronic system through which the site of the violation and its information was sent by the resident teams to the Ministry, which in turn instructed its inspection teams to visit the site and edit and control the violation.

The source added that «besides tightening control procedures, the continued high levels of commitment to the application of the ban at noon this year, demonstrated the awareness of the private sector and society of the importance of this decision, which aims to provide a safe working environment for workers to maintain their safety, and to avoid the risk of exposure to direct sunlight during the afternoons "In the hot summer months."

He explained that the ministry received a limited number of reports in violation of this decision, through the call center and service operators (evaluation), in addition to reports received by customer happiness centers affiliated to the ministry, stressing that the relevant inspection teams in the ministry has verified these reports and report to the Committee The concerned authorities, some of which adopted after verifying that the establishments committed explicit violations of the decision, require the application of punitive measures against them.

Establishments found guilty of violating the decision shall be punished with a fine of AED 5000 for each worker and a maximum of AED 50,000 in case of multiple workers employed in violation of the resolution, in addition to stopping the file of the offending establishment or reducing its classification in the establishment classification system adopted by the Ministry, Over the seriousness of the offense committed.

The source pointed out that «all irregularities that have been monitored, the inspection teams of the Ministry documented through photographs and recorded through the intelligent inspection system to emphasize the application of the highest standards of professionalism, in addition to a commitment to impartiality and transparency during the follow-up commitment of the owners of the implementation of the decision».

Protect workers from risks

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the noon ban requires employers to provide preventive means to protect workers from occupational injuries and diseases that may occur during working hours, as well as fire and other hazards that may result from the use of machinery and other work tools. All other safeguards prescribed by the Labor Law and the Ministerial Decrees implementing it shall be followed.

Employers are also required to set a schedule of daily working hours in a prominent place of the workplace in accordance with the provisions of this resolution, provided that the worker understands the language in addition to Arabic, in addition to providing a shaded place for the convenience of the workers during their work stoppage.

The decision excludes work where non-stop work is required for technical reasons, provided that the employer is obliged to provide cold drinking water, commensurate with the number of workers and the conditions of safety and public health and means and materials for irrigation, such as salts, lemons, and other approved for use by local authorities in the State .

Excluded works include asphalt mixing and pouring of concrete if it is impossible to complete or complete during the afternoon, work to prevent danger, reparation, damage, accidental damage or accidental loss, including work to repair water supply, sewer lines, Electricity, traffic, or obstruction in public roads and gas or oil pipelines.