The Ministry of Labor and Social Development aims to ensure the compliance of 30,000 establishments and protect more than 150,000 workers concerned with the decision.

30-06-2020

Tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 July, Ministerial Resolution No. (3) of 2013, regarding the prohibition of working under From direct sunlight and in open places during the afternoon from 12 noon to 4 pm in July and August, goes into effect. This comes within the framework of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness to protect workers from occupational diseases and injuries, especially during the summer period, which witnesses high temperatures and high humidity. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has completed its preparations to oversee the implementation of the aforementioned decision, beginning field inspection campaigns at targeted sites to ensure compliance with the decision by approximately 30,000 establishments. The Ministry has also set up a hotline (17873648) to report any violations detected by the public. The Ministry, through inspection teams, will verify the violation and take the necessary action in this regard. In a statement on this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, stressed the importance of continued compliance by establishments with this decision, noting that the compliance rate in previous years was ideal, and did not fall below 98%. He stressed in this regard the necessity and importance of employers providing work equipment with the best occupational safety and health standards to avoid workers from potential occupational injuries due to hot and humid weather, stressing that the Ministry will not be lenient in recording violations against non-compliant establishments, as the necessary legal measures will be taken in the event of a violation. According to the decision, anyone who violates the provisions of the decision to ban work during the afternoon will be punished with the penalties stipulated in Article (192) of the Labour Law in the Private Sector promulgated by Law No. (36) of 2012, which stipulates that anyone who violates any of the provisions of Chapter (15) and the decisions issued in implementation thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine of not less than BD500 and not more than BD1000, or one of these two penalties." The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has called on employers, as well as work site supervisors and occupational health and safety engineers in various establishments, to train workers in first aid, provide healthcare, and provide adequate drinking water to protect workers from heat stress.