“Human Resources and Emiratisation”: ‘Midday Break’ to begin June 15

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will begin implementing the decision banning work performed under the sun & in open places from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM starting 15 June until next September 15.

The ministry stressed the importance of the ‘Midday Break’ in preserving workers’ health and occupational safety, noting the need for establishments to continue during the ban period to apply precautionary measures and procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect workers from infection.

MOHRE praised the strategic partnership with the private sector in implementing the decision and achieving its objectives, as well as the active societal role in monitoring its implementation, which reflects the human values ​​prevailing in the Emirati society. 

MOHRE called on members of the community to contact the call centre on the toll-free number 80060 to report any case that violates the decision which receives calls in four languages ​​and around the clock, noting the great role that residents play in “Taqeem” centres in monitoring violations, as the ministry receives these reports in accordance with the established procedures and controls.

MOHRE explained that the decision includes implementing a set of preventive measures and controls aimed at protecting workers from exposure to direct sunlight, as well as implementing a set of awareness and guidance initiatives in partnership with a number of government and private entities and institutions. 

The decision obligates employers to post a schedule of daily working hours in a prominent place in the workplace, provided that it is in a language that the worker understands in addition to Arabic.

The decision also obligates employers to provide appropriate preventive means to protect workers from the risks of injuries that may result from the use of machines and other work tools and to follow all other prevention methods provided in the Labour Law and related ministerial decisions. Workers must follow the instructions aimed at protecting them from dangers and refrain from doing any work that would obstruct the instructions. 

According to the decision, the employer is liable for violating worker’s performance of work during the ban period as well as anyone who employs a worker who is not legally allowed to hire and uses him in violation of the provisions of this decision, which obliges employers who employ workers to provide them with a shaded place to rest during their break.

According to the decision, the daily working hours in the morning and evening periods, or in either of them, do not exceed eight working hours. In the event that a worker works for more than that during the twenty-four hours, the increase is considered an overtime for which the worker receives an additional wage in accordance with the provisions of the Law Regulating Labour Relations.

Every facility that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the decision shall be penalized with a fine of AED 5,000 for each worker and a maximum of AED 50,000 in the case of multiple workers being employed during the ban period, in addition to discontinuing the profile of the violating facility or lowering its classification in the establishments classification system approved by MOHRE based on the severity of the offense committed.