I read Karim Mansouri’s comments about the summer midday work ban with interest. His many years of outdoor work in Bahrain deserve respect. It is also true that many employers care about their workers and try to protect them during extreme weather.
However, personal experience should not be the main basis for public policy, especially when health and safety are at stake.
The purpose of the summer work ban is not to offend employers or reduce productivity. It exists because extreme heat can be dangerous, even for strong and experienced workers.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are not always easy to predict. A worker may seem fine one moment and suddenly collapse the next. High humidity, direct sun exposure, dehydration, and long working hours all increase the risk. In Gulf summers, temperatures often rise beyond safe limits.
It is also important to understand that many workers may not feel safe speaking openly about difficult conditions. Surveys conducted by employers, even with good intentions, may not show the full picture. Many migrant workers depend heavily on their jobs and income. They may avoid complaining because they fear losing overtime, being treated unfairly, or even losing their jobs.
The claim that workers can simply stop working if conditions become too harsh is not always realistic. Not all companies treat workers with the same level of care. Rules and laws are necessary not only for responsible employers, but also to prevent harm from less responsible ones. Safety regulations exist because goodwill alone cannot always be trusted.
The concern about night work being unnatural is valid. However, the work ban does not force all work to move to nighttime. Many companies adjust by working in the early morning and late afternoon while avoiding the hottest midday hours. This approach balances safety with productivity.
Economic growth and worker safety should not be seen as opposing ideas. Bahrain’s development has been built through the hard work of both citizens and expatriates. Protecting workers from avoidable harm is a way of respecting that contribution.
The work ban may not be perfect, and there is always room for improvement. But I believe removing it completely would send the wrong message about safety in one of the hottest regions in the world. Worker protection, fairness, and productivity can exist together, and they should remain a priority.
Greg
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