Two hundred companies were caught breaching Bahrain's summer work ban, officials have confirmed. All were reported to the Public Prosecution and will be fined based on the severity of their offence, an official said.

However, the violations, involving 820 labourers, were much lower than last year's figures, which totalled 383, involving 1,266 labourers.

The Gulf Daily News reported on Friday that more than 98 per cent of companies had complied with during the two-month afternoon work ban, which ended last Tuesday.

Inspectors carried out more than 15,000 visits to worksites across Bahrain from July 1 to August 31, said Labour Ministry occupational health and safety section head Abbas Matooq.

He said increased awareness and understanding of the law helped reduce the number of offenders.

"The decrease in violations is most probably due to the co-operation of companies to follow the law," Mr Matooq yesterday told the newspaper.

"It shows their understanding of the ban and its purpose."

The Labour Law stipulates that all outside work must stop from noon to 4 pm throughout July and August, the hottest months of the year.

Companies caught flouting the law face fines of BD50 to BD300 for each employee caught working outside.

A senior ministry official earlier said many of Bahrain's employers had already enforced a complete ban on outdoor work between noon and 4pm - even before July 1.

The ban was introduced to enhance productivity and protect the health of thousands of labourers at construction sites.

It was initially opposed by the construction industry. But the ban has led to a considerable reduction in heat stroke and heat exhaustion cases. - TradeArabia News Service