New Delhi > Taking public welfare into consideration, Kerala's labour department has issued an order permitting mandatory break time for labourers to avoid getting sunstroke as mercury levels rise this summer.
According to the News Minute, the order instructs all labourers who are exposed to direct sunlight which could potentially lead to a sunstroke, to rest indoors between 12 pm and 3 pm during the summer months.
The order seeks to reschedule shift timings for labourers who work outdoors and are exposed to the hot sun during the summer months. The rescheduling of working hours within the state will last from February 26 to April 30, and is implemented under the provisions of section 23(A) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1958
'Those working in the morning shift will get a break from 12 pm to 3 pm. Their work timings have been fixed at 8 hours from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening. For the other shifts which begin after morning and post noon will be rescheduled to end before 12 pm and begin after 3 pm,' read the order.
However, the order noted that these instructions will not be applicable to those labourers working on terrain which is 3,000 feet above sea level, as these areas are less likely to receive sunlight so intense as to lead to sunstroke.
'All district labour officers in the state are also required to execute the order and submit a report to the labour department,' the order said.
Last year, the labour department in Kerala had passed a similar order rescheduling shift timings from February to April to prevent labourers from being exposed to extreme heat from 12 pm to 3 pm.
