Midday outdoor work banned during summer in Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY: As summer temperatures rise, Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is increasing enforcement of its midday outdoor work ban to protect workers from heat-related health risks.

The regulation bans outdoor labor between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the months of June, July and August.

The policy is outlined in Administrative Resolution No. 535/2015 and aims to protect workers, especially those working in construction and similar outdoor sectors, from dangerous levels of heat. PAM officials clarified that the measure focuses on health and safety rather than reducing total working hours.

To ensure compliance, PAM will conduct unannounced inspections of construction sites and other outdoor workplaces throughout the summer. Employers who violate the regulation will face legal penalties, although specific sanctions were not disclosed.

In early May, PAM launched a multilingual public awareness campaign titled “Their Safety is Most Important.” The campaign will use social media platforms to educate both employers and workers about the dangers of extreme heat and the importance of complying with the midday curfew.

The authority stressed that the regulation is not intended to stop work but rather to shift work hours to safer periods of the day. PAM assured the public that steps are being taken to keep infrastructure and construction projects on schedule despite the restrictions.

According to PAM, employers have largely complied with the policy in recent years. The authority is urging businesses to continue to cooperate and maintain worker safety standards during the upcoming summer months.