Manama: Labour authorities in Saudi Arabia have cited 2,200 violations in six weeks against companies for not complying with a summer ban on employing workers outdoors under the scorching heat.
Inspectors have been out in force throughout the kingdom since the three-month ban on outside work between noon and 3pm started on June 15, labour ministry officials said. The ban will end on September 15.
“We have received 200 reports from people about non-compliance with the ban and recorded more than 2,200 violations in the first six weeks,” officials said, cited by local daily Al Sharq on Sunday. “The ban aims to protect workers and ensure their safety from high risks during the difficult weather conditions.”
The ministry had set up a hotline to encourage people to report violations of the summer ban.
Under Saudi laws, companies that do not adhere to the ban will have to pay between 3,000 riyals (Dh2,938.17) and 10,000 riyals for each of the violations and may face being shut down for up to 30 days. Recurring violations could mean shutting down the company permanently.
“We thank all those who have cooperated with us and reported violations by some companies in the private sector,” Faisal Al Utaibi, the general director of inspection at the labour ministry, said. “The high number of reports denotes an advanced awareness level among citizens and residents about workers’ rights.”
The ban does not include emergency workers and those who working in the oil and gas sector. However, the law stipulates taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of these workers.
Saudi Arabia is home to around nine million foreigners, mainly unskilled labourers from Asian countries working in the construction and service sectors. They make up around one third of the total population.
All the other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — have introduced the midday summer ban on outdoor work to protect labourers from potentially fatal heat strokes and dehydration.
