Undersecretary of Ministry of Labour, Sabah Salem Al Dousari stated that the commitment rate of the corporations to banning work at the noon time in the open areas during the period from 12:00 noon till 04:00 pm during the month of July reached 97.89%, where only 224 facilities violated the edict, as recorded by the visits to the locations by the occupational safety section. The visits were 10619.
Al Dousari praised the significant role of the employers in urging the officials who are responsible for the labourers’ locations in their institutions to be committed to stop work in the noon time, pointing out that those officials are aware of the human and production contents included in the edict. He also valued the efforts they exert in reinforcing a safe work environment, which positively reflects on improving production, and at the same time preserving the safety of workers, calling on the violating facilities to abide with the contents of the edict to avoid the penalty prescribed in this regard.
The Undersecretary highlighted that the application of the edict for this year has involved all the economic sectors, pointing out that they have found out that only 517 workers violated the edict in those mentioned facilities during the first month of the application of the decision, which will continue till the end of the current August. He also said that there have been written notifications sent to the employers to report at the ministry to sign the minutes of the violation in regard of the non-committed companies, before referring it to the Public Prosecution, so as to take the necessary fines and penalties included in implementation of the ministerial edict.
Al Dousari referred the rise in the commitment rate to the edict of banning work at the noon time during the first month of its application to several reasons: including the role of the educational campaign carried out by the Ministry of Labour, the ministry’s reinforcement on the importance of the edict in protecting labourers from work dangers at this time, and its role in improving the production levels, in addition to the cooperation of facilities and companies operating in the private sector.
Al Dousari pointed out the role of inspection visits in monitoring the application of the edict through the relevant team at the ministry, which includes 30 inspectors assigned to the task of field follow-up, and visit job sites and to monitor the implementation of the edict, particularly the small enterprises and institutions which commit most of these violations.
According to the edict No.(3) for the year 2013, regarding banning the work during the noon time in the open areas during the period between 12 noon and 04:00 pm during the months of July and August, “Whoever violates the provisions of this edict stipulated in Article (192) of the Labour Law for the Private Sector promulgated by Law No. (36) for the year 2012″, is to be punished with imprisonment of a period not exceeding three months and a fine of not less than 500 Bahraini dinars, and not more than 1000 Bahraini dinars, or either of these penalties.”