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Join Date: 05 Mar 2015
Location:  OmanPosts: 24 |
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Rising heat prompts mid-day break calls for workers in Oman |
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Rising heat prompts mid-day break calls for workers in Oman
Muscat: As temperatures rise, officials and labourers have called for the mid-day break for those who work in the sun to be flexible as medics report an 'alarming' rise in heat-related illnesses. It is predicted that temperatures will peak beyond 40 degree Celsius this weekend. Ahmed Al Hooti, an Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) member, said, "The mid-day break should depend on the weather conditions." In Oman, summer normally sets in by mid-April and continues until October. As per the regulations in Oman, companies have to give a three-hour break from 12.30pm to 3.30pm to labourers who work in open areas, such as at construction sites, in the months of June, July and August. However, temperatures have already crossed 40 degree Celsius now. Therefore, Al Hooti said, the timing of the break should be decided between the employer and the workers. "They should decide when they need to start work and when they need to take a break," he said. Workers are known to suffer dehydration and ill-health due to the long working hours in the summer. Both Omanis and expatriates involved in open area work during the summer are susceptible to dehydration and other heat-related illnesses. Dr Shibu Mohammed, a dermatologist at Badr Al Samaa Hospital in Ruwi, said, "On an average, I receive at least 15 cases daily complaining of dehydration and other heat-related illnesses. "This is alarming. Last year, the number was much less. If this is the start of the summer, then it may double in the coming months." "As the sunscreen creams are not covered under insurance schemes, employers fail to provide it to their staff. So, it becomes tough for the labourers working in open areas during summer," the dermatologist added. When contacted, the Ministry of Manpower said they have not made any changes in the mid-day break schedule, which is usually between June and August. Agreeing with the OCCI official, a social worker in Muscat said the mid-day break should be announced after studying the weather conditions. "It should not be decided in such a way that it will be announced on a certain date. It should be flexible depending on the climatic conditions. Advancing or postponing the announcement date can be done after studying the climatic conditions," Shaji Sebastin, a social worker who is a resident of Muscat for the last three decades, said. There have been unconfirmed reports that an expatriate died due to dehydration recently. Kamran Ali, an expatriate working in a restaurant in Khuwair area, said that two construction labourers used to come for tea every day at 4 pm. "However, last time we saw only one worker taking his tea break. When I asked him about the other one, he said he had died at work a day earlier," said Kamran. Workers say they should get longer breaks during summer as it gets very hot. "Our work is quite risky, especially in the summer," said an Indian working at a construction company. "Sometimes, we have to hunt for a place to hide from the sun, even if it is for a couple of minutes," he said. "Fixing an umbrella on site should be mandatory especially in summer. We usually hear about people who fall sick during work and that worries us," he said, adding that he was fine with any decision arrived at by both the parties. However, Al Hooti felt that any such decision should not affect the productivity. "On some days workers may need a four-hour break and on another day just an hour. Work should not be affected but logic should prevail," he said. Such issues affect not just expatriates but nationals as well who work in open spaces, he added. "After all, we are all human beings, and we should work together for a better working environment and productivity," said Al Hooti. Hussein Ali, HR manager at a construction company, said that they try to avoid exposing their workers to the sun for a long time in summer. "We do not mind a five to ten-minute break during work. There have been no reports of casualties during work in our company because we advise them to stop whenever they feel dizzy or exhausted," said Hussein. The Ministry of Manpower normally takes legal action against establishments caught violating the rule. Intensive inspections are held at work sites to ensure compliance with the provisions of the rule. In 2013, the ministry fined close to 35 companies for violating the rule. In 2014, they inspected 700 facilities and found 172 of them violating of the rule. Article 118 of the Labour Law states that violators would be penalised either with a fine not less than OMR100 and not more than OMR500, or a jail term of not more than one year, or both, and also that repeated violations would lead to the penalty being doubled. Source:timesofoman http://www.timesofoman.com/News/50676/Article-Rising-heat-prompts-mid-day-break-calls-for-workers-in-Oman |
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