Minister makes surprise visits to inspect work ban compliance

Manama : Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel Humaidan, has made an unannounced field tour to several construction sites across the Kingdom’s governorates to understand closely the commitment of the construction establishments to the summer afternoon work ban from July 1 to August 31.

The open construction sites visited by the minister and his accompanying delegation comprising the Labour Ministry’s officials and occupational health and safety inspectors were free from workers, which indicates the construction companies’ commitment to the ministerial edict 3 of 2013 on banning outdoor afternoon work.

The minister met work sites’ supervisors and was informed about the procedures taken by their establishments to ensure safe and secure work environment. In a statement following the unannounced field visit, the minister praised the companies’ commitment to the afternoon outdoor work ban, noting that the ban and the humanitarian dimensions embedded in it are among the multiple labour gains achieved during His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s prosperous era.

He emphasised that workers’ protection, and ensuring their health and safety are priorities that everyone should be committed to, stressing that the Labour Ministry will intensify inspection visits and violators will be held accountable.

The minister affirmed that the Kingdom is keen on ensuring the safety and health of all workers at the worksite, which, he said, has placed it among the leading countries in this regard. It is to be noted that edict 3/2013 on banning outdoor afternoon work stipulated a jail term not exceeding three months, a BD500-1000 fine, or both as the penalty inflicted on violators.