Companies in Qatar that continue to violate government directives on summer work hours will be publicly named, HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi has said.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs has penalised 60 companies with three-day site closures for violating restrictions on summer working hours, the official Qatar News Agency reported.
Ministerial Decree No 16 of 2007 bans outdoor work in the country from 11.30am to 3pm, between June 15 and August 31. Under the decree, companies that disregard the regulations can face site closures of up to one month, depending upon the severity of the violation.
Commenting on the site closures by the ministry, HE Dr al-Nuaimi said: “It is important for companies to comply with standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of our workforce. Companies that continue to violate these directives should understand that they will face stronger penalties and will be publicly named for breaking the law.”
The summer work hours rule is implemented with the aim of providing relief to those engaged in outdoor works, including construction labourers, for the 75-day period when the summer weather is at its worst.
A report published in Gulf Times on June 16 showed how the rule was being flouted in some places.
For instance, some workers were seen in action at a site in Doha - where a multi-storey building was under construction - between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on June 15, the day the ban came into effect. Similar violations were seen at some sites in the neighbourhood as well.   
On the other hand, a number of companies have been deploying their personnel for outdoor work in the evening or early hours of the day, it is learnt. Their shifts begin after 7pm or around 2-2.30am.
The change in schedule has provided relief to the workers as they do not have to toil during the peak-temperature hours. It also ensures the smooth and efficient delivery of construction duties as conditions are more bearable in the late-evening hours, thereby helping boost productivity, according to site supervisors.
The revised timings have helped improve work output, said one of them, hoping that the trend would continue in the coming years as well.
Related Story