The Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced on Tuesday that midday work under sun will be banned between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. from Wednesday onwards. All employers have been instructed to ensure their workers stay out of sun for three hours during the three-month period ending on Sept. 15, according to Fahd Al-Owaidi, undersecretary for inspections and improvement of the work environment at the ministry. Al-Owaidi told Saudi Press Agency that oil and gas workers as well as maintenance workers who do emergency duty will be exempted from this regulation. However, measures must be taken to protect them from the hazards of scorching sun. The official said there will be exemption for outdoor work ban in some regions of the Kingdom in view of low temperatures there. "The ministry is keen on protecting the safety and health of workers in the private sector and providing them a secure working environment. The ministry is coordinating with the governorates of those regions with regard to taking a decision whether to ban work under sun or not," he said. Al-Owaidi called upon Saudi citizens and expatriates to contact the ministry's customer service No. 19911 for any queries or lodging with complaints or visit the ‘Rasd' portal (https://rasd.ma3an.gov.sa)
