Two weeks before Qatar’s summer midday working ban begins, the government is reminding companies to prepare to rearrange the schedules of its employees, or face penalties.
The ban takes effect from June 15 to Aug. 31. It was instituted in 2007, and mandates that no laborer log more than five hours of outdoor work in the mornings.
On Twitter, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) said outdoor work must stop from 11:30am to 3pm. It added:
“Employers must place the working hours’ timetable at the work place, according to the decree. The timetable should be in a visible place where all workers can see and labor inspectors can easily notice during their inspection visits.”
Those found flouting the ban could be closed for up to one month, MOLSA said. It also listed a hotline for people to call in case they spot violations: 44241101.
Summer sun
For the past several weeks, residents have been calling on Qatar to start the midday work ban sooner, due to higher than usual temperatures, which nearly reached 50C over the last few days.
@dohanews 45deg & rising. Alwys carry an xtra bottle of water with you 4 that thirsty man working under the hot sun. Let's be good #Qatar
— SA (@shabeeraa) May 31, 2014
It's scorching 47 degrees at the Pearl #Qatar right now. Thoughts with the workers who toil here. #Doha
— Salman (سلمان صدیقی) (@salmansid) May 28, 2014
@MurrayShaw1 @salmansid Thoughts are nice and all, but perhaps some work place safety laws might be better.
— Enganche (@bad_football) May 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/serdarozdemir15/status/471633830890053632
Earlier this month, when temperatures began soaring past 40C, some companies told Doha News that they had already begun voluntarily observing the midday work ban, allowing their employees to cease working from 11:30am to 3pm.
But other businesses said they planned to continue working as usual, unless the government instructed them to do otherwise.
Thoughts?
