Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait are considered among the hottest regions in the world.
Beirut: Human Rights Watch has warned that workers in the Gulf are at risk from extreme heat, and governments should take more protective measures for them.
Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait are among the hottest regions in the world, where summer temperatures often reach 50 degrees Celsius. A large number of workers in these countries are from India and Pakistan, who work in the construction sector.
According to Michael Page, the organization’s deputy Middle East director: “Every summer season shows that the environmental crisis is creating a dangerous situation for the health of workers. If the Gulf states do not take timely measures, more deaths, kidney failure and chronic diseases will become common.”
Although working in the sun during the afternoon is prohibited in the Gulf countries from mid-June to September, HRW says that extreme heat now begins in May, making these protective measures insufficient.
They have called on governments and companies to take immediate safety measures based on temperature and risk, rather than calendar-based restrictions.
According to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), 83.6 percent of workers in Arab countries are working in extreme heat, which is putting their health at risk.
