Mandatory Midday Break For UAE Laborers

UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

Summer hours ruling

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a mandatory midday break for UAE labourers who work in the sun during summer. The three-month midday break starts on 15th June and will run until 15th September, with workers banned from working outside from 12.30pm to 3pm.

Companies must give a 2.5 hour break to labourers who work in open areas and those who violate the midday summer break ruling will face penalties. Non-compliance will result in their companies' classification being downgraded by the Ministry, and they will be fined AED 5,000 per worker and a maximum fine of AED 50,000.

The only exclusions from the working day ban are works involving:

Mix asphalt poured concretes, if it is impossible to implement or supplement the necessary work in one day. Works to prevent expected danger, or preparation or damage or malfunction or loss.

Emergency work, including cutting lines, water supply, sewerage, electricity and cutting off traffic or blocking public roads, in addition, to cut gas pipelines or petroleum flow.

Given the importance of the ruling and the severity of the penalties, all line managers and site supervisors are required to provide a clear schedule to inform workers of their daily working hours during the midday break period in English, Arabic and Urdu at the work site, for the benefit of all employees, and so that Ministry inspectors can see it clearly during their inspection visits.

It is also mandatory for the employer to ensure that the on-site supervisor is trained to deal with heat stress, to provide first aid in the workplace, and to ensure the availability of cool drinking water and adequate provision of appropriate rest areas with industrial cooling and protective umbrellas which will give workers shade from direct sunlight.

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