Work in open spaces and under direct sunlight is banned from 12.30pm to 3pm daily, effective June 15 to September 15.

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), working hours should not exceed eight hours per day during the ban months. If an employee is made to work more than eight hours a day, the additional period will be considered overtime and the employee is entitled to compensation.

During the midday break, employers must provide workers with a shaded area where they can rest.

Penalties

Employers found to be violating the ban's provisions and regulations will be fined Dh5,000 per worker. The maximum fine amount is Dh50,000 when multiple workers are made to work during banned hours.

Report violations on 600590000 or the MoHRE app by using 600590000.

The exemptions

In some jobs, work is required to continue uninterrupted, so the midday work ban is not applicable. Among them are:

- Laying asphalt or pouring concrete, where it is unfeasible to postpone these tasks until after the break.

- Work needed to contain hazards or repair damages that affect the community such as interruptions to water supply or electricity, cutting off traffic, and other major issues.

- Work that requires a permit from a relevant government authority to be implemented, given their impact on traffic and services flow. These tasks require non-stop work, including cutting or diverting main traffic routes, power lines, and communications.

Employers are required to provide workers with cold drinking water in exempted jobs. Public health and safety requirements should be maintained by supplying hydrating food, such as salts and/or other food items approved for use by the local authorities in the UAE. They must also provide first-aid at the work site, adequate industrial cooling, umbrellas that protect from direct sunlight, and shaded areas for workers to rest during their downtime.

Making workers' health a priority

In his statement, Mohsen Al Nassi, undersecretary of the MoHRE for inspection affairs, pointed out that workers' health and safety are fundamental to the operation of a labour market. The midday work break, implemented for the 19th year in a row, is in line with the highest professional and humane standards. This is designed to protect workers from the potential risk of injury resulting from high temperatures during the summer, especially at noon.

“A significant milestone for the labor market, the ban on midday work is integral to UAE work environment regulations and community culture .The ministry’s partners and other individuals launch a range of initiatives during the summer months to provide supplies that protect workers from exposure, heat exhaustion, and sunstroke,” he added.