Five cases of the mandatory midday break for workers being flouted were recorded this year.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday said that, of the 42 complaints they received between June 15 and September 15, thorough investigations and on-the-spot inspections found that five were in breach of the law. The offending companies were fined as per the law.
The annual initiative was introduced in 2004 and allows those working outdoors to break from 12.30pm to 3pm during the three-month summer period.
Those found breaking the midday break rule can be fined Dh5,000 for each worker, with businesses facing a maximum fine of Dh50,000 if a group of labourers is found working during the assigned hours.
Maher Al Obed, assistant undersecretary for inspections at the ministry, said that, after receiving reports of possible breaches, inspection teams moved to the various sites across the Emirates to investigate the complaints. After documenting work practices through written and photographic evidence, the documents were then passed to a committee in the ministry for review.
Mr Al Obed said the public were encouraged to report suspected offences to the ministry through its dedicated call centres on 80060.