RIYADH — Construction work continued through the heat of the day at work sites across Riyadh, despite the recent ban by the Ministry of Labor on outdoor work between noon and 3 p.m. Laborers at a number of work and construction sites across the city could be seen pouring cement, carrying loads and unloading cranes and trucks, despite temperatures well in excess of 40 degrees Celsius. There appeared to be little enforcement of the ban despite the ministry announcing the new rule earlier this week as well as fines of SR3,000 to SR10,000 for violators. The ban is in place until Sept. 15. Laborers working for oil and gas companies as well as emergency maintenance workers are exempt from the ban provided that employers take the necessary measures to protect workers from the sun. At the King Abdullah Financial District, one of Riyadh's largest ongoing construction projects, workers in safety hats and reflective vests were unloading cranes and shifting steel reinforcing bars on the top of construction sites between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Next door, at Hamat's major Riyadh Park development, laborers were carrying out similar work on the top floor of the construction site in broad daylight. Work at a number of other sites around the city appeared to come to a stop during the day. Construction sites for Riyadh's new metro were largely empty between noon and 2 p.m., as were many of the sites for the city's major road upgrades. A senior engineer working on the Riyadh Metro project told Saudi Gazette that they had received specific instructions for all work to stop during the middle of the day. But despite the ban, work continued on a number of villas throughout the day in Riyadh's upscale Hittin District. Opposite the Kingdom Tower at Damac's new Paramount residential towers, workers could also be seen unloading air conditioners and milling about on the work site. And in the Al-Mohammadiyah District, labor continued through the hours of the work ban, with workers pouring cement at sites bearing signs for the National Water Company.
