This week the spotlight is on employment and transport developments in United Arab Emirates where the annual summer midday outdoor working ban has begun in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The annual three-month ban on outdoor work has started. In the UAE the ban runs from 15 June to 15 September when workers are not permitted to work outside between the hours of 12.30 and 3pm. The ban in Saudi runs at the same time but outdoor working there is forbidden between 12 and 3pm, except for those working in the oil and gas industries or emergency services. (Although employers in those sectors are still required to ensure their workers have adequate protection from the sun. The Saudi Labour Ministry has set up a special hotline for reporting employers violating these rules and have warned those who do so will face heavy penalties.

Elsewhere, officials at Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre have announced owners of abandoned cars will be fined 1,000 AED and have their vehicle impounded. The Centre, together with the Abu Dhabi Municipality is cracking down on vehicles abandoned in car parks and outside villas amongst other places. An awareness campaign has been launched and notices to owners of abandoned cars have started to be issued. The notices give abandoned car owners three days to remove or clean them. Unattended car owners will have 24 hours to remove them. The rules will also apply to trailers and boats. If the fine is paid in two weeks, a 25% discount will be given to vehicle owners.