Outdoor work banned during heat in Northern Cyprus

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Northern Cyprus has announced a temporary ban on working under the open sun during the daytime from 12:00 to 16:00. The restriction comes into effect on Friday and will remain in force until and including Sunday. The decision is due to the extremely high temperatures expected in the coming days.

The ministry's official statement emphasizes that the ban is based on forecasts from the Department of Meteorology and assessments from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety. According to this data, being in the sun during the specified hours poses a serious health risk, especially for those working outdoors without breaks — particularly in construction, agriculture, and other physically demanding outdoor sectors.

The ministry refers to the relevant article of the Labour Law, which grants it the authority to impose such temporary measures to protect workers' health. Employers are advised to adjust schedules and shift outdoor work to morning or evening hours.

The statement further notes that businesses in the construction and agricultural sectors may set their own shift start times. They are also permitted to organize the delivery of construction materials, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and machinery to sites in the morning hours to maintain production schedules while complying with safety requirements.