(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muslims working at construction sites in the Sultanate have appealed to the authorities to allow them to work in the night to help them observe fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The average temperature during the day in the first 12 days of Ramadan has been hovering at 44 degrees Celsius, and labourers are finding it extremely difficult to carry out their duties while fasting in the intense heat.
“Out of the 12 days, I could fast only on eight days. My throat becomes dry and I feel weak. I was forced, God forgive me, to break my fast. We request the authorities to pass a law that will allow Muslim labourers to work after Iftar so we can do our duties comfortably,” Arfan Khan, a Pakistani labourer at Al Khodh told Times of Oman.
Constraints
Syed Hassan, an Indian Muslim from Hyderabad, was rushed to the hospital on Thursday by his colleagues after he collapsed in the afternoon at a construction site at Bausher where he was working at. “I needed two pints of drip because the doctor said I was dangerously dehydrated. I should have stopped and had water but my faith does not allow me, so I continued,” Syed said.
Some construction company owners say though they understand the situation, they cannot provide electricity during the night for their workers to carry out their duties.
“Construction sites do not have power connections. We take electricity from neighbours for a single connection but the line is not strong enough to light up the whole site.
If the authorities allow power connections at the construction sites, then that might help,” Hamood Al Hadhrami, a construction company owner, said. The Ministry of Manpower does not exempt Muslim construction workers from working during the day in Ramadan, but had passed a law last year for a midday break between 12.30 and 3.30 in the afternoon in the summer months for all labourers.
However, industry experts support the Muslim workers’ plea to be allowed to work after Iftar, for humanitarian reason.
“The Ministry of Manpower will need to consider this as well but construction company-owners must be compassionate towards their workers by allowing them to work in the night and let them rest during the day,” Ammar Al Fadhil, a civil engineer at the Defence Ministry told Times of Oman.
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