THE annual two-month summer outdoor work ban should be extended to include petrol pump attendants, an MP has proposed.
In July and August, all outdoor work is banned between 12 noon and 4pm in Bahrain, according to a ministerial edict of 2013.
The measure is aimed at protecting workers’ health and ensuring their safety against occupational diseases and injuries, particularly in soaring temperatures and high humidity.
Dr Masooma Abdulraheem submitted a proposal to Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal to extend the edict to include petrol pump attendants and protect them from the scorching heat.
“According to the ministerial edict, workers whose job requires them to be in open spaces under the sun are exempt from working from noon to 4pm during the months of July and August,” she said in a written proposal.
“Their employer must adjust their working hours according to the conditions of the edict and ensure information is provided to all the workers in multiple languages on sites to ensure that they comply.
“According to the third clause of the edict, petrol pump employees as well as emergency maintenance workers are exempt from this edict with their employer urged to take necessary precautions to protect them against the sun and heat.
“This clause must be amended and take into account the rights of workers at petrol pumps as well as protecting them from high temperatures during these months.”
Dr Abdulraheem also highlighted the need for a partial closure of petrol pumps, from noon until 4pm, during the ban period, to protect the workers.
She said that a proper mechanism must be developed to ensure the smooth operations at petrol stations and urged people to co-operate with the government to protect the attendants.
“The partial closure of petrol stations for four hours can be organised in a proper manner and people can be instructed to fill up their tanks either before or after the closure time,” she added in her proposal.
“Government efforts must also be intensified to raise awareness about such a decision to ensure compliance.”
reem@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))