The mid-day break for workers involved in outdoor activities will come into effect from June 1 for three months, amid calls that it should be enforced much earlier. Speaking to the Observer, an official at the Ministry of Manpower said that the companies operating in the sector are free to advance the mid-day break policy for their workers, taking into consideration the extreme heat conditions. “In my opinion, the companies have the freedom to advance the mid-day break rule for the benefit and health safety of their workers,” he said. As per the company law, the mid-day break rule comes into effect generally from June 1 till the end of August.
The images of workers at work in the scorching heat with temperatures nearing 50 degrees prompted this appeal from the citizens and residents to have a more practical under circumstances.
“There is this need to take decisions based on ground conditions. We don’t have to wait till June 1 to implement the mid-day break as the summer is already at its peak,” Ahmed al Hasani, who works in the HR department of a private sector. Several voluntary groups have been distributing free bottled water to construction workers. “We strictly follow the rules laid out by the ministry for the mid-day break for the workers. We are more open to adjust the timings keeping in the mind overall health conditions of the employees,” said a supervisor of a contracting company.
Temperatures in the country are expected to be at its peak, probably till Thursday.
Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) had last month urged businesses about the necessity of adhering to the Article 16 on the regulations for occupational safety and health.
The chamber in a statement said that as per the article, “The workers shall be not employed in the construction sites or high temperature locations during afternoon hours from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm throughout June, July and August every year.
According to the company law, in the event of the existence of any danger which threatens the safety and health of the workers, the ministry shall take necessary measures to stop the work wholly or partially, or to stop the operation of one or more machinery until the elimination of the causes of such danger.
The employer or his representative is liable to pay a fine of not less than RO 100 and not more than RO 500 and a jail term of one month or shall be subjected to one of these two penalties in case of infringing the provisions of the sixth section of this law and the regulations and resolutions issued to execute it. The companies are required to any incident at work to the concerned authorities within 24 hours.
— By Vinod Nair
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