Businessmen will seek talks with the government in an attempt to modify the new ban on outdoor work during the hottest hours of summer.

The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has welcomed the ban, despite contractors claiming to have lost millions of dinars as a result.

However, it now hopes to enter into negotiations with the government following the announcement that the ban would now be enforced every year.

All outdoor work was banned between noon and 4 pm during July and August based on a decision taken by the Cabinet.

"It was good as a trial and error to come up with some rules and regulations," said BCCI contractors' committee vice-chairman Nedham Kameshki.

"It was good in principle, but it has got to be feasible in practice.

"The government is in charge of health and safety and developing the country and we both need to act together to build up the country.

"There has to be some negotiation between the contractors and the government."

However, Kameshki says he is not against the policy if it is implemented differently.

He believes the government should follow International Labour Organisation (ILO) rules that say people should stop work at 48 degree Celsius and over, rather than impose a fixed daily ban.

Kameshki also wants the government to request an extension to project deadlines that could be affected by any delay in work.

He has previously suggested that construction firms might seek compensation from the government for penalties incurred from late delivery of projects.

The new law came into effect when it was published in the Official Gazette during the second half of July.

Labour Ministry assistant under-secretary Jameel Al Humaidan has since announced the ban would be enforced annually after yielding positive results for workers' safety.

The ministry said 549 companies, employing 1,945 workers, were found to have breached the ban and now face fines after being taken to the Public Prosecution.

Officials earlier said these could range between BD50 and BD300 per worker.

Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) action committee head Marietta Dias welcomed an annual ban, saying it had made a big difference for workers.

"I think the government is beginning to take things a lot more seriously," she said. "I would like to see it extended until the middle of September because sometimes it is just as hot."

Dias also rejected criticism from the business community that even workers were complaining about the new rules.

"It is extremely hot between 8.30 am and 4pm," she said. "I would like to ask these people (business leaders) if they have stood outside in the mid-day sun for a couple of minutes, never mind doing any work." -TradeArabia News Service