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Construction workers defying the sweltering summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia will be given some relief as a ban on working during midday hours went into effect on Sunday.
The ban, that is to be enforced throughout the kingdom, was implemented by the Saudi Arabian Labor ministry last summer, and prohibits outdoor work between noon and 3 p.m. from July 1 until August 31.
However local daily Arab News reported that human right groups have complained that the ban is not being enforced everywhere.
We have had many cases and complaints about companies forcing their employees to work in the sun during the banned hours, said Mufleh al-Qahtani, president of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) to Arab News.
The complaints have prompted NSHR to file a petition with the Ministry of Labor and as a result the ministry has vowed to crack down on firms that do not enforce the ban this summer.
This, year we will send out inspection teams to construction sites to enforce the ban and protect the kingdoms outdoor workers, said ministry spokesman Hattab al-Anizi.
In May 2012, fellow Gulf state Oman decided to also enforce a midday work ban as the temperatures soar in June, July and August.
The United Arab Emirates has been enforcing the ban for several years and companies this year face a fine of 15,000 dhs ($4,084) if they violate the rule.
Thousands of migrants workers are working the in the oil rich gulf region, many of them in the construction sector.
Temperatures in several areas are expected to reach 50 degrees Celsius in July.