“The ministry is going ahead with its earlier decision to prevent companies from making their employees work under the sun from noon to 3 p.m. from the beginning of July till the end of August every year starting 2011,” Al-Humaid said, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
Addressing a workshop on “Facilitating implementation of the decision to prevent working under the sun” here on Saturday, the minister said violators risk being fined, shut down or both. “Violators of the directive would be subject to punitive measures as per article 236 of the Labor Law. These include fines ranging between SR3,000 and SR10,000 for each violation, or closure of the firm for a period no more than 30 days or forever. The penalties also include both fines and closure of the firm,” he said.
Al-Humaid hoped that the private sector would cooperate with the ministry in effectively implementing the decision on social, economic and humanitarian grounds. “Private companies should come forward to shoulder their responsibilities in taking appropriate measures to protect their workers from the harmful effects of the scorching sun,” he said.
Al-Humaid said that the ministry is adamant on protecting all workers — both Saudis and expatriates — who work under the direct heat of the sun. “There are several provisions in the Labor Law that clearly specify the responsibility of employers in protecting their workers from job-related risks. Taking into account of this keenness, and in view of the increasing complaints of exhaustion and exposure to heat among construction workers, the ministry conducted a comprehensive study about regulating work under the sun in the summer, and presented it to the supreme authorities,” he said.
“As per the directive of the Council of Ministers, the ministry had issued a directive last year banning midday work from the next summer season onwards,” he said, adding that the ministry had given employers an entire year to prepare themselves before the decision is executed. The one-year period has given companies sufficient time to reduce daytime shifts for employees who work outside during the hottest part of the year.
The deputy minister also noted that the move is in line with international labor laws to protect workers and provide them with safe and healthy working environments. “The ministry would closely monitor the implementation of the directive that aims to protect the rights of workers and ensure their safety and health in the workplace in a civilized manner. This would also strengthen the Kingdom’s position globally with regard to fulfillment of health and environmental criteria while regulating the employment market,” he said while reemphasizing that the move would help increase productivity and performance of companies by safeguarding the health and safety of their workforce.
Al-Humaid also drew attention to the fact that the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait have already introduced the midday work ban.
