Bahrain’s cabinet has recently revised - Opens in new tab the summer midday work ban for employees working outdoors under the sun, reducing it from three months to two and a half months. This year, the ban will be in effect from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., between 15 June and 31 August.
The summer midday work ban, formerly applying to July and August, was extended by the government in September 2024 to cover the period from 15 June to 15 September, aligning it with similar measures in other Gulf states. The extension followed years of advocacy by migrant and civil society groups, who called for the ban to include the hotter months of June and September. The three-month ban was implemented for 2025.
The government offered no explanation for the latest revision, stating - Opens in new tab only that the cabinet’s amendment is “based on the results achieved in previous years”. The decision likely reflects pressure from construction companies seeking to make up for lost working time, as many projects have been halted due to the war in the Gulf.
MRRORS reports have previously highlighted that the Gulf’s summer midday work ban is inadequate, as it is based on fixed calendar dates and hours rather than actual temperatures. Moreover, the ban primarily targets construction workers, overlooking other outdoor workers who are exposed to heat, such as security personnel, delivery drivers, and petrol station attendants.
Climate scientists and research institutes have warned that a strong El Niño is highly likely later in 2026 and 2027, which could increase the frequency of heatwaves across parts of the GCC and West Asia region. MRRORS has previously reported that extreme temperatures and high humidity outside the current ban period continue to put workers at risk of dangerous heat stress. Shortening the ban is arbitrary and not based on actual evidence.
For more on Bahrain’s summer work ban, read our previous report here.
