AMMAN — As the Kingdom experiences the longest heat wave of this summer, warnings
have been issued concerning public health in general, and the protection of
workers who could be exposed to heat stress, in particular.
اضافة اعلان
The
General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) called on employers in various economic sectors to abide by
occupational health and safety requirements within the work environment during
the current heat wave forecast affecting Jordan until the beginning of next
week. Temperatures in Amman are expected to reach a high of 39O during the day.
In a statement on Saturday, The GFJTU also advised workers to avoid exposure
to direct sunlight during peak times, urging business owners to ensure their
safety.
Workers perform their tasks under direct sunlight
and in open spaces in many labor sectors, and this makes it incumbent on
employers to take measures to maintain the employees’ safety and health,
primarily work rotation and resting hours.
Calling on laborers to suspend their activity in
open places during the peak period, for their own safety, The GFJTU said
occupational safety and health requirements are workers’ right, guaranteed by
the Labor Law, and it is the employers’ responsibility to ensure them.
Meanwhile, Workers’ House, an NGO’ in Jordan that
seeks to improve working conditions, also issued a warning on Saturday, asking
employers to abide by occupational health and safety requirements.
Director of Workers’ House Hamada Abu Nijmeh praised
the prompt response of the
Greater Amman Municipality, which announced that it
will be reducing working hours for any field worker by pausing work from noon
till 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. He also praised the decision by the Greater Irbid
Municipality to end the shift for such workers at 12:30pm.
A Workers’ House statement stressed that the Labor
Law obliges employers to protect their employees and to take all measures
needed to prevent any harm from affecting them.
The statement also pointed to the danger of heat
stress on workers, which could lead to dehydration and death from exposure. The
statement said it is important to let workers rest, supply them with cold
water, and provide them with light clothes and personal protection gear.
The statement also stressed the importance of
looking out for signs of heat stress, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and
body temperature.
Labor Ministry spokesperson Jameel Al-Qadi told
Jordan
News that the ministry had posted several cautionary notices warning of the
dangers of exposure and heat stress, and calling on employers to adopt safety
measures.
Abu Nijmeh, however, said the ministry should have
issued a statement similar to the one released last year, through which it
obliged employers not to have laborers working in open spaces that are exposed
to direct sun light, especially during the peak period between noon and 3pm,
adding that the delay in issuing such a statement is unjustified.
“It is quite shameful to see the Ministry of
Agriculture issue a statement asking farmers to take care of animals during the
heat wave, and the
Ministry of Labor not asking employers to protect their
workers,” Abu Nijmeh said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Administration on
Saturday instructed Jordan’s municipalities to reduce daytime working hours for
outdoor cleaners and field employees, during the heat wave peak hours.
According to the ministry’s statement, the decision
was taken in light of the current heat wave forecast to afflict the Kingdom as
of Saturday, based on Jordan Meteorological Department updates.
Mazen Maaytah, president of the GFJTU, told
Jordan
News that “while Jordan is not used to extreme heat waves, the need to add
a legal article in the Labor Law that protects workers’ rights is essential, so
that we do not have to wait for statements every time”.
Ayman, an
Egyptian builder aged 43, who works in the Northern Jordan Valley, told
Jordan
News that during peak heat hours workers ask their employer to grant them a
break, but that they will make up for that in the afternoon.
“We have reached an agreement with the employer to work only
at night during the summer and rest in the morning, and thankfully he agreed,”
Ayman said.
Read more Features
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
