By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Young Saudis are distributing cold water and juice to street cleaners to help them beat the summer heat. The campaign started last year in Jeddah and Riyadh where summertime temperatures often rise over 45C (113F).

“The campaign was very successful last year when many volunteers gave away hundreds of chilled water bottles to street cleaners as charity. We thought continuing this campaign would be very beneficial to them since they have to work all day under the sun,” said Ghaith Al-Houti, a 17-year-old school student. “When you think of it, you’re spending a small amount of money but you are making deprived people happy with this simple gesture.”

The young activists are urging people to continue these efforts through the summer months. The Ministry of Labor issued an order in 2010 banning outdoor labor from noon to 3 p.m. in the months of July and August.

The law came into effect last Friday. Companies are supposed to arrange their outdoor employees’ work schedules so that they rest during the hottest hours of the day.