Labourers rue end of midday break

From Monday workers will no longer be entitled to the midday break. Many hoped that it could have been extended until cooler weather arrives.

Labourers would like to see the midday break extended until October so they can continue taking shelter from the sun. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // Workers across the capital would like to see the midday break, which ends on Monday, extended until cooler weather arrives.

For the past three months labourers have been allowed to down tools between 12.30pm until 3pm, to give them respite from the summer sun.

But after the Ministry of Labour announced on Sunday that it will be work as usual from Monday labourers were quick to say they would like it to continue for at least another couple of weeks.

“I am going to miss the midday break very much and I hoped that it could have been extended for the end of this month as still it’s very hot,” said Ali Hussain, who works as an electrician.

He said that he had enjoyed the “good days” of the past three months and was not looking forward to going back to having just a one-hour break each day.

“When we get a nap it freshens us and we feel rejuvenated when restart work after the break.

“My job is basically indoors but still I regularly get the breaks and sometimes we have to work outside under direct sunlight. Nowadays I am working outside and it’s very hot,” Mr Hussain said.

“It’s still very hot to work outside and I wish this could be expended until this month end,” said Zahid Ul Islam, who had just sat down for his last long break on Sunday.

“Now I will get only one hour to lunch and rest then we have to come back to work,” said Mr Islam, 27, said who earns Dh1,000 a month as a mason.

He said that he thought the weather would be cooler by next month and conditions easier to work in.

Shareefullah Khan, a pipe fitter, also echoed the views of other workers and added that authorities should find a permanent solution to stop workers having to remain at their worksites during the break period.

If companies construct accommodation near worksites workers can easily return for lunch and return quickly, he said.

They can also come early in the morning without wasting time on the bus, Mr Khan said.

“In the morning you can see most of the workers sleep on the bus and they wake up at 4am to catch a 4.30am bus. It takes more than one and a half hours to reach the site due to traffic and the distance between the site and accommodation,” he said. “Most of the time workers go to bed at 11pm or 12am and find it difficult to wake up early.”

Lack of sleep can also result in drivers having an accident, Mr Khan said.

According to the Ministry of Labour in mid-August, 56 companies flouted the midday break rules and had to pay fines of Dh15,000.

The ministry will announce comprehensive figures for all three months later.

“Employers were obliged to provide workers with shaded areas during that period, aside from ensuring a safe working environment at all times,” the ministry said.

Companies accused of flouting the midday rules, which were introduced 10 years ago, are entitled to file a complaint against the ministry if they believe they are not guilty. All complaints will be followed up.