Heat wave to continue till Friday; laborers want relief

As the Western Province reels under high temperatures, laborers are calling for the midday work ban to begin earlier.
Jeddah and Makkah saw the mercury hovering around 50 degrees Celsius yesterday. According to the Met Office website, the hot air mass will continue to impact these cities, and is expected to continue until Friday.
The government introduced the midday work ban in 2011 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., beginning July 1 through Aug. 31, to protect construction workers from the heat. However, workers have expressed that these measures are insufficient in the face of extreme heat.
Iftikhar Muhammed, an Indian laborer in Jeddah, told Arab News that even around 10 a.m., it is already over 38 degrees Celsius. He said it was unacceptable for business owners to expect laborers to work in such conditions.
Aatish, another Indian worker, said, the management last year made him and his colleagues work all day regardless of the ban because the company was behind schedule on the project. He said despite the fact that they reported the company to the Ministry of Labor, nothing happened.
The PME indicated that Saudi cities are expected to record higher degrees during this summer season, reaching 50 degrees Celsius and beyond. In addition, the PME indicated that there would be low visibility because of the dust storms in the center and eastern regions, which will continue to affect the northern, southern and western parts of the Kingdom. There are signs of cumulus clouds forming on the south-western highlands.
Nutritionist Dr. Ruwaida Adriss advised citizens to frequently replenish their bodies with fluids throughout the day to counter the high temperatures and avoid thirst and dehydration.
The sweltering heat in the holy cities during the last few days has forced residents and Umrah visitors to use umbrellas once again, in the hopes of lessening the effects of the sun.