Afternoon work ban raises UAE standing globally

Abu Dhabi, June 16, 2011 (WAM) - A work ban from 12:30 to 3:00 pm took effect from yesterday and will last till 15th September 2011, a senior labour official announced yesterday. Maher Al Obad, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection Affairs, Ministry of Labour, told the media yesterday that the afternoon work ban was enforced for the sixth consecutive year calls on workers to lay down tools for the said time under specific conditions set by the ministry.
''The ban is a practical embodiment of the Ministry's policy for promoting principles of occupational health and safety as stipulated by the UAE labour law and international relevant conventions,' he said at a press conference attended by representatives of Dubai Municipality, other government entities and private sector firms. He lauded the experiments of the last five years as ''good'' and wished that these good results would be maintained.
According to him, the safety and health initiative has deepened the culture of partnership between the ministry and producers. ''The initiative has earned the UAE prominent reputation at international form and become a role model for countries having the same weather conditions,' he noted.
He urged all parties concerned to abide by the decision and called them to take more preventive measures to safeguard the health and safety of workers. He stressed the need for educating workers about the dangers of working under sunlight, calling on employers to provide what it takes to protect workers from the heat exhaust, including shield shades, provision of places of rest, cold water, fluids and materials that help perfuse the body as well as first aid equipment in the workplace. - Emirates News Agency, WAM