170 companies in violation of midday break rule in Oman

Muscat: Manpower Ministry has found 170 companies in violation of the midday break rule during the period of June 1 to July 10, according to a senior ministry official.
“The ministry visited 1,376 companies and found 170 of them violating the rule,” the official said.
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The rule, which became effective from June 1 and will last till the end of August, bans work at outdoor sites between 12.30pm and 3.30pm when the summer heat is at its peak.
In 2015, 391 companies were penalised by the ministry for violating the mid-day break rule, which included 138 businesses in Amerat, 122 in Seeb, 98 in Bausher and 33 in Muttrah.
Earlier, the Ministry of Manpower had told the Times of Oman that violations can be reported at 80077000.
According to the Article 118 of the Oman Labour Law, violators can be penalised with fines ranging from OMR100 to OMR500, or a jail term of not more than one month, or both. The penalty will be doubled for repeat violations.
With temperatures hovering around 48 degrees in different parts of Oman, places such as Mudhaibi and Um Zamaim recorded a high of more than 48 degrees on Monday, according to the Oman Meteorological Department.