Why do we need to legislate every issue?

Readers hail the mandatory midday break for labourers. Other topics: Louvre, fire alarm, child protection law, US gun law, Sharjah fall

Readers welcome the mandatory midday break for construction workers. Antonie Robertson / The National

It's good to know that the mandatory midday break has been implemented (A needed break from the heat, June 16). I hope construction companies comply with the rule. To my mind, the Government should not have had to intervene. This is a matter of understanding and compassion. How can someone force people to work in this blistering heat? It's unfortunate that we need to legislate over issues that should otherwise be done normally.

Ryan Fernandes, Abu Dhabi

You have rightly pointed out that it shouldn’t be too much to expect construction workers to be ferried on buses with air-conditioning. Every summer I see and hear people discuss the issue passionately. Yet nothing is done about it. This is sad.

Divya Bhatnagar, Abu Dhabi

The real glory of Louvre revealed

The video of Louvre Abu Dhabi you have posted is impressive. The design of the museum looks fabulous. I am happy that the country is doing its best to keep up with state of the art technology.

Sam Bajallan, UK

The structure looks amazing. I can’t wait to check it out.

Jane Samson, Abu Dhabi

Why did they have to call it Louvre? Will France use an Arab name for one of its monuments?

Haleema Omar, Abu Dhabi

Frustration over false alarms

The frequent sounds of fire alarms are extremely annoying. It's happening in many buildings in Marina Square (Fire safety in Reem Island high-rise still cause for alarm, residents say, June 15). I hope they fix this problem soon. It's frustrating feeling that we never know whether the alarm is genuine or not.

Angel Cake, Abu Dhabi

Child law a major achievement

The implementation of the child protection law is a vital step in the right direction (New child's law marks a subtle shift, June 16).

However, it is unfortunate that some children need protection from their parents. Now teachers will have the ability to speak up unlike before when they recognised the signs of abuse but weren’t able to protect the victim.

Imagine how one might feel when one knows that a child is being abused but is unable to do anything and send that child home every day to a situation where he or she could be badly hurt.

I know teachers here who quit their jobs, because they couldn’t handle this.

Sandra Knuteson, Sharjah

From now on, children will be owned by the state and not by parents.

Guglielmo Molteni, Abu Dhabi

America needs gun-control laws

An increasing number of attacks have made the social environment stressful. We may not be able to thwart these extremists but we can take precautions. In America, for example, it can be done through stringent gun-control measures. Taking executive decisions on such matters is more crucial than ever. We cannot keep debating on these issues.

Alice Su, Dubai

An avoidable tragedy

It is sad that yet another child died after falling from a high-rise building in Sharjah (Boy, 4, is latest child to fall to death in Sharjah, June 15).

It is about time that parents and guardians learn to be responsible. Children must not be allowed to play on balconies or near windows and must never be left unsupervised.

In addition to this, balconies and windows ought to be firmly secured.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah