BAHRAIN’S annual midday outdoor work ban ends today, following a successful three-month effort to protect labourers from the extreme summer heat.
The clamp, which was in force from June 15, prohibited labourers from working in open areas or direct sunlight between noon and 4pm.
The ban was based on a 2007 law aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses among labourers in the scorching heat.
For the first time, the restriction was extended to three months this year.
The GDN reported last month that the compliance rate by companies had reached 99.96 per cent this year.
Only six violations were registered after more than 17,600 inspections of work sites and other locations across the kingdom, labour relations assistant under-secretary Aqeel Abuhussain was quoted as saying.
Violators were liable to be imprisoned for up to three months and/or fined between BD500 and BD1,000.
An awareness post by the Labour Ministry about the summer outdoor work ban
The ministry had also opened a hotline, 32265727, for the public to report any violations observed during the midday work ban period.
Meanwhile, the Indian Community Welfare Association marked the end of its Thirst-Quenchers 2025 programme, which was aimed at distributing bottled water, fresh juices and fruit and more to labourers working in the scorching heat.
The final distribution took place at a Nass Contracting project site in Riffa, where more than 450 workers received essential supplies.
Association chairman V K Thomas delivered a talk on summer health and safety precautions.
The Indian Community Welfare Association marked the end of its Thirst-Quenchers 2025 programme
This year’s Thirst Quenchers programme was supported by the Interior Ministry, Labour Ministry, Labour Market Regulatory Authority and International Organisation for Migration.
Launched in 2016, the programme has benefitted more than 21,000 workers across Bahrain, delivering bottled water, fresh fruit and juices to reduce the risks of heat stress.
This year alone, 13 weekly drives benefited more than 5,250 workers.
The GDN previously reported that a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) stated that Bahrain would be the second Arab nation most affected by heat stress resulting in loss of working hours by 2030.
Rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030 with people being unable to work due to the health risks posed by higher temperatures, said the report, ‘Working on a Warmer Planet: The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work’.
Heat stress occurs when the body absorbs more heat than is tolerable. It generally occurs at temperatures above 35C, accompanied by high humidity.
Extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and exhaustion, increase mortality and worsen existing health conditions.
The report stated that in 1995 Qatar and Bahrain lost, respectively, 2.3pc and 1.9pc, of working hours (the equivalent of 6,600 and 4,600 full-time jobs) as a result of heat stress.
Projections for 2030 suggest that this percentage will more than double in both Qatar and Bahrain, reaching 5.3pc and 4.1pc, respectively.
Working hours lost to heat stress in the agriculture and construction sectors in Bahrain is projected to be around 9.5pc by 2030 compared with 5.8pc in 1995.
Overall, Bahrain will lose 4.1pc working hours due to heat stress by 2030 which, the report indicated, was equivalent to about 32,000 jobs.
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