No restriction on firms choosing night shifts

“Under the country's labour regulations, workers should work eight hours a day under specific rules and conditions. Whether the employees put in their eight hours at night or during the day, makes no difference as long as the law is being strictly observed,” the official told Khaleej Times. “The day is 24 hours, and in these 24 hours employers have the right to utilise their workers at any time, day or night, except in cases of women and minors,” the official said.

Commenting on a Khaleej Times suggestion to introduce a system whereby construction workers can work on the sites at night and rest during the day to avoid the direct exposure to the scorching summer heat, the official stressed that “legally there is no provision banning companies from introducing night shifts as far as the labour law is concerned.”

Elaborating on the conditions, the official said that in the eight hours shift, workers should be given a one-hour break after five hours of continuous work, during which they can rest, eat or pray.

“If the work exceeds eight hours, workers are eligible for overtime which is calculated on the basis of the wage of one and a half hour for for each overtime hour. In any case, the workers should not be made to put in more than two overtime hours at any given time,” the official explained.

Asked if this proposal came up in the discussions with construction companies before the introduction of the summer mid-day break, the official said that last year the decision to introduce a four-hour break at construction sites from 12.30pm to 4.30 pm in July and August, was taken in haste. “Now there is enough time to discuss the issue and listen to companies' views on the night shifts,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the labour force in the country has welcomed Khaleej Times proposal on introducing a night - only shift during the summer time terming it as a 'constructive and timely' idea.

A large number of workers interviewed by Khaleej Times yesterday said that night only shift will save them from the killing heat in the day during summer time.

“I think it is a great plan for workers. Last year the time regulation during the summer time helped us a lot . But if we are to work only night shiftt, a that means we are out from the heat completely,” said Jobin who works at a construction company in Al Qouz.

“The good thing about the night only shift is that we can spend our time in our camp when the sun is in its peak. In summer it is hard to work in the day . Even the Labour Ministry restricted the work at peak hours of the day last year, still we found it hard to make through the remaining hours after 4.30pm. If companies introduce night only shifts that would be easier for the workers, and more beneficiary for companies as our productivity will increase following a day rest in the shade,” he added.

Jayaraj, a worker in Sonapoor, said: “All the workers were happy last year when the ministry introduced the noon-break system . But introducing a night only shift system would be more appropriate for the workers. So day time workers can be at home and evening when it is cooler they can go to work.”

He pointed out that during summer the heat starts at about 10 am up to four in the after noon. “If we can spend the day time at our accommodation that means we are completely saved from sun burns and summer exhaustion. We hope that the companies will be willing to introduce this system,” he added.

Pushparaj, a worker in Sharjah echoed the same sentiments saying: “The hardest time for a worker in the UAE is summer time because of the heat. If the companies introduce the night only system, the labourers will not have to suffer the heat. Actually it will increase the output of the work.”

He pointed out that the night only shift system will help both employers as well as employees. “The productivity of a worker will double when he works in a less tiring weather. The companies should realise this,” he said.