Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar interacts with workers during his visit to Sohba Reality's project site in Dubai on Friday. WAM

The midday break, implemented for the 20th consecutive year, is a cornerstone of the country's labour market legislation. It aims to provide a safe working environment that adheres to best practices and standards of occupational health and safety, protecting workers against injuries that may result from working in high temperatures during the summer.

Dr Abdulrahman (C) with officials and workers pose for a group photo at Sohba's project site in Dubai. WAM

Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, reviewed the private sector’s preparations to begin implementing the midday break, which prohibits working under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces every day from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm, and is scheduled to start tomorrow, Saturday, 15 June, until 15 September 2024.

Sohba Reality's workers during the ceremony. WAM

Al Awar paid a visit to one of Sobha Realty’s projects in Dubai, accompanied by several senior officials from the Ministry, where he toured the rest areas provided by the company for its workers, which are equipped with cooling devices, cold water, and other amenities to ensure workers’ health, safety, and comfort during the Midday Break.

Sohha's employees during a medical check up at their camp in Dubai.

Ravi Menon, Co-Chairman of Sobha Realty, and Francis Alfred, Managing Director, along with several executives from the company briefed Al Awar on the key initiatives that the company has launched to ensure workers’ protection and establish a decent and safe working environment.

Al Awar praised Sobha Realty’s initiatives and its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its workers, expressing his great confidence in “the significant awareness among private sector companies about the importance of implementing occupational health and safety requirements and standards at work sites and labour accommodation facilities, given their positive impact on workers’ health, safety, and productivity.”

‘WELL-ESTABLISHED CULTURE’

“The midday break has become a well-established culture in the UAE private sector as it enters its 20th consecutive year,” Al Awar noted, underlining the high levels of compliance that the initiative has achieved over the years. “The private sector is a strategic partner for the government in its efforts to enhance the competitiveness and leadership of the UAE labour market.”

Sohba's outdoor workers during the ceremony.

“We can see this clearly in companies’ consistent compliance with labour relations regulations, as well as in their commitment to supporting labour market initiatives and programmes, in addition to prioritising social responsibility,” he added.

600 REST STATIONS

The MoHRE had announced that 6,000 rest stations would be provided for delivery workers across the UAE, in addition to an interactive map of these stations to enable workers to easily locate and access them throughout the midday break period.

The ministry has called on all private sector companies that carry out outdoor work to launch similar initiatives to ensure the safety of their workers, while also urging community members to report any irresponsible practices or violations of the midday break by contacting MoHRE’s call centre at 600590000, or through its website or smart application.

WAM