As temperatures soared above 50℃ during the last week of June, outdoor workers are facing severe heat conditions. In response to this, an educational campaign was launched to inform laborers about the risks of heat exhaustion. This initiative, which distributed food, presents, hygiene items, water, and juice to approximately 600 workers in Sharjah's Hamriya district, was supported by the Emirates Red Crescent Authority - Sharjah Centre, which also provided medical check-ups.
The campaign is set to run until the end of July across all areas of the emirate. A related video from the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) can be viewed on their X platform. Concurrently, the Dubai branch of ERC, in partnership with the Dubai Health Authority and the Noor Dubai Foundation, organized a 'health day' at worker accommodations. This event included medical screenings and gift presentations to acknowledge the workers' hard work.
A video of the health day is also available on X. To combat the intense summer conditions, the UAE has enforced a midday break rule, prohibiting outdoor work from 12.30pm to 3.00pm under direct sunlight. This regulation, effective from June 15 to September 15, imposes fines of Dh5,000 per employee, with a maximum penalty of Dh50,000 for multiple violations.
Anticipating record-breaking heat this year, the UAE has introduced various measures to assist workers, such as free ice cream and juice distribution, and the establishment of air-conditioned rest areas, in addition to the mandatory midday break.
