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Daily Tribune

Protect Outdoor Workers

TDT | Manama Delivery, fuel staff left exposed • Workers face direct sun exposure • MP urges expanded labour ban • Risks rise amid summer heat Bahraini Member of Parliament Dr Mariam Al Dhaen has called for urgent action to protect groups of workers who remain exposed to extreme summer temperatures despite existing midday work regulations. She urged authorities to expand the midday work ban to include gas station employees and food delivery riders, citing the severe toll of sun exposure and heat stress on their safety and wellbeing. Although Bahrain enforces a midday outdoor work ban from 12 noon to 4pm during summer, it currently applies only to traditional field workers. Dr Al Dhaen argued that gas station attendants and motorcycle-based delivery staff are just as exposed to harsh conditions, if not more so, yet continue to work through peak heat hours. She said delivery riders, in particular, face not only heatstroke risks but also increased chances of traffic accidents due to heat-induced fatigue and loss of focus. Dr Al Dhaen proposed that delivery operations during the midday ban be limited strictly to air-conditioned vehicles. 'This is a humanitarian and legislative responsibility,' she said, highlighting the urgent need to revise the framework to reflect real-world working conditions. She also called on the Ministry of Labour to step up field inspections and enforcement, warning that non-compliance remains a persistent issue despite existing laws. The MP stressed that protecting workers from the health risks of extreme temperatures is part of Bahrain's broader commitment to human rights and social justice. She called for stronger protective policies that align with international labour standards and reflect the Kingdom's stated values. Al Dhaen's appeal comes amid intensifying heat waves across the region, prompting renewed scrutiny of how well labour policies are keeping up with rising environmental and occupational hazards.