No work under direct sunlight from 12 noon to 3 PM: Saudi Ministry

The Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development aims at safety of workers: says in Twitter

Riyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development announced a ban of work under direct sunlight between 12 noon to 3 PM. The work ban will be in effect from June 15^th to September 15^th 2020. The Ministry stresses that the safety and a healthy work environment for the workers are always its responsibility. The decision mainly aims at protecting the workers in the private sector from risks of heat and sunstroke fatalities.

“It is not permissible to employ a worker in open work under the sunlight from twelve noon to three o’clock in the evening during the period between the fifteenth day of June to the end of the fifteenth day of September of every year of the Gregorian year”, a spokesman from the ministry said. The ministry made the announcement in their official twitter:

Exemptions:

The work bans exempt workers in oil and gas sectors and workers in emergency maintenance service. But the sponsors should make sure that these workers take the necessary measures to protect them from sunlight damage. Also the ministry calls upon employers to organize work hours and observe what is stipulated in this decision.

The ministry stressed it is working hard to provide a safe work environment from the various work risks, They try to raise the level of efficiency and means of protection to reduce occupational injuries and diseases. Ministry’s plans to protect workers from accidents will be reflected in improving and increasing the level of production.

The decision is not applicable to all governorates of the Kingdom as the temperature in these areas are not so high. However, the Ministry has advised the governorates to have a strict monitoring on the working condition of the labourers. The officials under the Labour branch will co-ordinate and take decisions whether to ban work under the sun in any additional regions in the Kingdom. The co-ordination will be with the managers of the branches of the regions. They can determine the extent of the need to implement the decision in their work areas and the provinces. That follows, according to the climatic conditions and temperatures prevailing in the region during the prevention period.

Any complaints?

In case, if any employer does not follow the Saudi work ban rule, expatriates or citizens can call to the Service number of the Ministry 19911. They can also visit https://rasd.ma3angov.sa/ for any questions or to lodge any complaints regarding the work time.