Saudi Arabian authorities have announced that the mandatory midday break for labourers who work in the sun will begin on July 1.
According to the kingdom’s Ministry of Labour, the ban will prevent workers having to toil between midday and 3pm during the summer months.
But calls have been made to advance the date which is more than two weeks later than a similar ban in the UAE which is due to start on June 15, Saudi daily Arab News reported.
It said concerns are growing for labourers as temperature exceed 50C in the past week.
According to Article 236 of Saudi Arabia’s Labour Law, individuals and companies that violate the midday work ban can be fined up to SR10,000 per violation.
“Violating firms will be closed either for not more than 30 days or once and for all,” the ministry warned, adding that it may also implement both fine and closure together.
Saudi Arabia introduced the midday ban in 2011 and was the last Gulf country to bring it in to protect workers from extreme summer heat.
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