Children make the most of the annual snow fall in the Northern Border Province while their father keeps a watch on them. (SPA)

The Ministry of Labor has ordered private sector employers to provide protection for their workers against the cold weather sweeping the country including warm clothing and instructions on how to keep safe.

The ministry wants to prevent work-related accidents in line with labor regulations, sources were quoted as saying, in response to a statement posted by the ministry on its website.

The sources said the ministry has provided extensive information on safety awareness on its online websites, including the protection of property and goods. It wants to develop a culture of safety in the country.

The ministry plans to conduct inspections to check whether employers comply with the directive and the regulations. Penalties for non-compliance are set out under Article 236 of the labor regulations, the sources said.

The ministry’s regulations for public and private companies are in line with international labor standards, the sources said.

The National Human Rights Society (NHRS) has reportedly also urged firms to protect their workers against the inclement weather.

The government prohibits companies from forcing their workers to work outside in extreme hot and cold weather.

The Eastern Province’s Labor Office and the NHRC have reportedly urged contracting companies not to let their employees start working outside before dawn.

Many workers, particularly those working in construction, have reportedly fallen ill with pneumonia and other illnesses because of the severe cold.

Meanwhile, the Met Office said the icy weather would continue until Thursday across the country but rain is forecast over Makkah region, Qassim, Hail and parts of the Eastern Province.

Hussain Al-Qahtani from the Met Office said the cold weather has resulted in ongoing snowfall in the northern region especially Tabuk and Al-Jouf. The cold weather is a result of storms from Europe and America. It would probably end this week, said Al-Qahtani.

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