RIYADH: Deputy Minister of Labor Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid said his ministry is keen to introduce a ban on working outdoors during the midday this summer from July.
“The ministry is going ahead with its earlier decision to prevent companies from making their employees work under the sun from noon to 3 p.m. from the beginning of July till the end of August every year starting 2011,” Al-Humaid said, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
Addressing a workshop on “Facilitating implementation of the decision to prevent working under the sun” here on Saturday, the minister said violators risk being fined, shut down or both. “Violators of the directive would be subject to punitive measures as per article 236 of the Labor Law. These include fines ranging between SR3,000 and SR10,000 for each violation, or closure of the firm for a period no more than 30 days or forever. The penalties also include both fines and closure of the firm,” he said.
Al-Humaid hoped that the private sector would cooperate with the ministry in effectively implementing the decision on social, economic and humanitarian grounds. “Private companies should come forward to shoulder their responsibilities in taking appropriate measures to protect their workers from the harmful effects of the scorching sun,” he said.
Categories: Asia, Saudi Arabia