MLSD Minister announces that the percentage of establishments' commitment to the "work ban" decision this year is 99.7%

31-08-2020

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, announced that compliance with Ministerial Resolution No. (39) of 2013, regarding the prohibition of working under sunlight and open places during the afternoon period from 12 noon until 4 pm in July and August, reached 99.7 per cent in 2020. He reiterated the Kingdom’s determination to foster an exemplary working environment by applying the highest occupational‑safety standards, continually updating health‑and‑safety legislation, and mitigating workplace risks to reduce injuries and accidents. Marking the conclusion of this year’s midday‑work ban on 31 August, Humaidan noted that compliance continued to improve over previous years, confirming that enterprises operating in Bahrain now implement the resolution optimally. He stressed that the decision embodies humanitarian and legal principles while yielding economic gains for employers, who benefit from rescheduling work hours in ways that maintain productivity and curb costs associated with heat‑related incidents. He commended employers for providing the protective measures necessary to shield workers from heat exhaustion and sunstroke during Bahrain’s peak summer temperatures and humidity. Humaidan emphasised that such high compliance underscores national commitment to international labour standards and encourages further legislation that safeguards the workplace from the economic repercussions of occupational accidents. The resolution, he added, reflects Bahrain’s distinguished record of respecting human rights—especially those of workers who contribute to the Kingdom’s development—and positions Bahrain among advanced nations in caring for labour rights and maintaining a safe, injury‑free working environment. During the two‑month ban, the Ministry conducted 13,658 inspection visits, issuing fines to only 30 establishments and recording 42 violating workers. Offenders have been referred to the judiciary in accordance with Article (192) of Law 36 of 2012, promulgating the Labour Law in the Private Sector, which stipulates that ‘any person who violates any of the provisions of Part Fifteen and Orders issued for its implementation shall be liable for a prison sentence not exceeding three months and a fine of no less than Bahrain Dinars five hundred and not exceeding Bahrain Dinars one thousand, or either penalty.