Many Construction Workers Forced To Work Despite Outdoor Work Ban

Many construction workers working in building and construction sites complained that they endure high temperatures and humidity as their employers forced them to work at noon times, despite the ban, reports Al-Qabas daily. Speaking with the daily, several workers revealed that in order to earn their livelihood, they are compelled by management to work according to the timings set by the contractors or employers even during the work ban period during the day, and they suffer due to the severe weather conditions.

On why some business owners continue to violate the law that prohibits work outside from 11:00 am till 4:00 pm, the workers of a project blamed the employer for being forced to work during this period. They explained that they were under lockdown in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Khaitan areas during the coronavirus crisis.

After the lockdown ended, they returned to work but are required to work more within less time to ensure they are not subjected to contractual fines. The workers pointed out that they do not bear the fines of the violations imposed by the Public Authority for Manpower. The contractor or the company is referred for investigations if the inspection team visits the site and discovers the violation. The workers are unable to do anything in this regard.

A source from the National Center for Occupational Safety affirmed that efforts are ongoing to ensure the labor laws are being followed, and the most prominent violations are registered in the new construction areas such as West Abdullah Al-Mubarak area and industrial zones or ongoing construction sites.

The daily reports, quoting sources, that there is a large percentage of projects, especially of the government, that are committed to the decision to ban work from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. However, many of such violations are committed by some subcontractors or construction workers working in private projects. The workers complain about the contractor’s lack of commitment, but unfortunately, most of their residency visas are not under the contractor with the contract for the construction projects.

The Public Authority for Manpower announced the registration of 375 violations for forcing employees to continue working in violation of the decision ban work in the afternoon, from 11 noon until 4 in the afternoon. The inspection teams continue to monitor violations without complacency.

PAM added that the total number of sites inspected from June 1 to August 6 was 161 sites, while the total number of companies in violation for the first time reached 266, and the total number of reports received through the hotline was 59 reports. In addition, 231 companies obeyed the initial warning of the violation and corrected their work scheduled. Once they did not repeat the offense, they were not levied with penalties and fines ranging between KD100 and KD200 for one worker. The inspection teams found that six construction sites that did not follow the initial warning.

 

SOURCE THETIMES

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