Within the framework of the decision to forbid working at noon, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization has imposed four requirements on businesses and employers: providing shaded areas for employees during downtime or while operating under a license; providing suitable cooling equipment; providing adequate amounts of water and humidifiers, including salts and other items that are authorized for use by local authorities nationwide; and providing first aid supplies at workplaces.

From next Sunday, June 15, until September 15, from 12.30 pm to three in the afternoon, the ministry will start enforcing the decision to forbid working in the sun and in open areas. Based on a sustainable methodology used by the UAE in its eagerness to provide a safe working environment that satisfies the best practices and requirements of Occupational Health and Safety, the decision to "ban working at noon" is being made for the 21st consecutive year. This is done in order to prevent worker injuries and damage that may arise from working in hot weather during the summer.

Imposing fines of 5,000 dirhams

The ministry clarified that financial penalties of 5,000 dirhams for each employee who violates the decision and a maximum of 50,000 dirhams for multiple employees will be imposed on enterprises that do so.

No work ban at noon

An interactive map of these breaks is provided so that workers can easily access them. Every year, during the months when the "noon work ban" is in effect, safe, air-conditioned rest areas for delivery service workers are established throughout the nation as part of a collaborative effort between the ministry, government, and private organizations.

The ministry confirmed in its guidance manual on the "Prohibition of work at noon" on its website that three types of work are exempt from the decision. These include asphalt mix brushes and concrete pouring, which require continuous work for technical reasons if they cannot be completed after the Prohibition period, as well as any work required to prevent danger or repair malfunctions that affect society as a whole, like cutting water supply lines, and other tasks whose execution necessitates a permit from a competent government authority due to their impact on traffic flow, among other things.

Reports of violations of the "midday work ban" are received by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization through three channels: the ministry's website, the smart application that allows users to add reports via the Apple Store and Google Store, and the call center at 600590000.

The prohibition on working at Noon has attained a groundbreaking level of compliance, surpassing 99% for years in a row. This has confirmed the consolidation of social and humanitarian values among the private sector companies and business community in the United Arab Emirates. It also reflects the humane and illuminating picture of the laws and practices implemented in the country, particularly with regard to occupational health and safety standards and requirements.

In order to increase awareness of Occupational Health and Safety requirements and protect workers from heat stress and sunstroke, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization is eager to educate establishments and their staff about the significance of adhering to the "ban on working at noon" through inspectors' field visits, which include work sites and workers' dormitories.