The midday break rule begins on Thursday and the government has announced it will be conducting inspections to ensure employers are adhering to the rules. 

The rule, ordered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, means labourers and workers are not be allowed to work directly in the sun between the hours of 12.30pm and 3pm.

About 18 inspection teams have been employed to ensure that companies follow the rule across the country – using a smart inspection system which will aim to conduct 60,000 inspectional visits across the UAE.

The ministry has been distributing awareness leaflets to both employers and labourers since June 7, to warn of the laws and the dangers associated with working in hazardous conditions.

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“We dedicated three inspection teams in Abu Dhabi, two in Al Ain, four teams in Dubai, two in Sharjah, two in Ajman, two teams in Ras al-Khaimah, two in Fujairah and one team in Umm Al Qaiwain”

Maher Al Obed, Assistant Under-Secretary of Inspection Affairs

Companies that do not follow the directives will be slapped with a fine of AED5,000 per worker to a maximum of AED50,000 in case of a large number of workers. The company can be downgraded and possibly even temporarily stopped from operating.

In exceptional cases, where continuous work is required, employers must provide workers with cold water, salt and lemon, first aid, air-conditioners and sunshades.

The midday break rule, which has been in place for the last 13 years, has to be observed until the September 15.