By Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: With stricter monitoring by the authorities on companies violating the labour laws, an increasing number of companies have fallen in line with the new rules and regulations, especially the summer working hours which came into force on June 15.
The safety and comfort of workers have become a significant factor for government on deciding about allotment of tender to a company. A company’s chance of getting a tender gets weaker if it has poor record of safety of workers.
“When I came back from annual vacation, I was surprised to see that my company had shifted the labour camp to a new and much better facility where just four workers were sharing a room. Whereas in the old camp, more than six workers were living in a room,” said an employee of a multinational construction company.
The government announced new summer timings that require companies to stop works on outdoor sites from 11.30am to 3pm from June 15 to August-end.
Following the order of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, the company has reduced the working hours at six hours plus two hours overtime as maximum.
Companies are ensuring that workers are given lighter work and remain healthy and fit during Ramadan.
A big company has asked fasting labourers not to do heavy work, said worker. The fasting labourers are given lighter worker in order to avoid exhaustion.
Those not fasting were divided into groups to reduce the work load. They work in shift to ensure that one group can rest when the other is working.
“So far we have not received any case of heat stroke this summer even in Ramadan”, said a nurse at a worksite where hundreds of labourers are working in shifts.
Close monitoring on workers’ health
“We keep monitoring closely the conditions of works on duty. The foreman takes round and asks the fasting labourers for taking rests. If he saw anyone of them involved in heavy duty like carrying blocks immediately stop him and assign the job to those non-fasting,” added the nurse.
Some workers are being assigned only to serve cold water to other labourers to protect them from dehydration as some of them might ignore the instruction for taking plenty of water.
“Cold water, ice, glucose and other first aid supportive products are available in enough quantities at the site”, he said.
“We keep monitoring the condition of workers. When weakness is observed in a worker immediately he is being taken to a cold room available at the site,” he added.
Our company provides foods at sites and labour camps. Fasting workers are served Iftar meals on time.
The meals include dates, juices, samusa, chana masala. Hot diners are being served with everyone at 8pm,” said a worker.
The Peninsula
