A workshop to brief private sector employers and occupational health and safety officers on the annual midday summer work ban was organised by the Labour Ministry.
Held at its headquarters in Zayed Town, the session saw experts highlight the importance of enforcing the ban to protect workers from heat-related illnesses during the peak summer period.
Officials also outlined the ministry’s planned measures to ensure compliance, including awareness campaigns, field inspections and community outreach programmes.
The annual midday work ban prohibits outdoor labour under direct sunlight from noon to 4pm from June 15 to August 31.
Violators will be subject to imprisonment for up to three months and/or fines ranging from BD500 to BD1,000.
The GDN reported earlier this week that legal experts and labour union representatives had called for a review of the scope of Bahrain’s annual midday work ban to include workers who remain highly exposed to extreme temperatures, particularly motorcycle delivery riders and workers at service stations.
Two of the most common illnesses reported by outdoor workers during the summer are heat exhaustion and heat stress.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats and struggles to regulate its temperature, with symptoms including heavy sweating, pale or clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea and muscle cramps. While usually manageable, it can escalate if symptoms do not improve within 30 minutes or progress to confusion, loss of consciousness or dry, hot skin.
During the 2025 summer ban (June 15 to September 15), Bahrain recorded a 99.97 per cent compliance rate. Out of 35,050 inspection visits by the Labour Ministry, inspectors found only 10 establishments in violation, involving a total of 18 workers.
People are being urged to report violations by calling the ministry’s hotline at 17873921, operating from 7am to 4pm throughout the week.
Citizens and residents may also report violations during the work ban period via WhatsApp using the same number.
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