Qatar has shut 42 sites found to have violated the midday break law, which bans outdoor work from 11.30am to 3pm during the hot summer months.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said this week it had shut down the sites for failing to comply with the schedule in force from June 15 to August 31, The Peninsula reported.

The move follows 475 surprise raids on work sites across the country. Companies in breach of the rule could face closure for up to one month, the ministry has warned.

In the UAE, 10,430 firms were inspected as of July 8, Ministry of Labour officials said last week. Only 11 establishments were found to be violating the UAE’s midday break law, marking a compliance rate of 99.88%.