JEDDAH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) is urging authorities to ensure the safety of construction workers by preventing work during midday hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in summer.
NSHR President Mufleh Al-Qahtani said there is cooperation between the NSHR and the Labor Ministry to put pressure on concerned private companies and government departments.
He said the halt of work during midday hours was required during the months of July and August when temperatures in the Kingdom reach sweltering highs.
He urged all private firms and government agencies to abide by the labor regulations and show keenness toward safeguarding workers. “Article 12 of the Labor Law insists that an employer should take precautionary measures to protect his workers ... and should not cut his salary for providing this protection,” he said.
Ahmed Salim Al-Obaid, director of the Labor Office in Eastern Province, said his office had not received any complaints from employees for working during midday hours on the instruction of their companies. “The Labor Office wants everybody to follow the regulations in order to ensure the safety of workers,” he said.
Ali bin Mohammed Al-Shukri, head of the Department of Physics in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, predicted that climatic changes in the region would be accompanied by an unexpected increase in temperature, especially during midday hours.
A field survey of construction workers conducted by Al-Madinah Arabic daily showed that they lacked clarity regarding their labor rights pertaining to summertime working schedules for outdoor workers.
They said employers force them to work during noon hours to complete projects quickly. They survey showed that the workers were not provided with safety gadgets, such as helmets or goggles.
