Foreigners Without Face Masks Punished With Push-Ups in Bali

Foreigners Without Face Masks Punished With Push-Ups in Bali
TT

Foreigners Without Face Masks Punished With Push-Ups in Bali

Foreigners Without Face Masks Punished With Push-Ups in Bali

Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups.

Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them.

Bali authorities made wearing a face mask in public mandatory last year as Indonesia battled a raging Covid-19 outbreak.

In recent days, however, scores of foreigners have been caught without face coverings, said security official Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara.

More than 70 people paid a fine of 100,000 rupiah ($7), but about 30 others said they did not have the cash.

Instead, they were ordered to do push-ups.

Those not carrying a mask had to do up to 50, while those who were wearing one improperly were punished with 15.

Some Indonesians on the island, which is a pocket of Hinduism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, have also been hit with the unusual punishment.

Bali's authorities have also warned that foreigners who break virus regulations could be thrown out of the country, although so far there have no reports of anyone being deported for failing to wear a mask.

The island, which has been hammered by the epidemic, remains officially closed to overseas tourists but is home to many long-term residents from abroad.

Foreigners living elsewhere in Indonesia can still visit.



Red Sea Global Opens its First Health and Safety Training Academy

This is Red Sea Global's first Health and Safety Training Academy - SPA
This is Red Sea Global's first Health and Safety Training Academy - SPA
TT

Red Sea Global Opens its First Health and Safety Training Academy

This is Red Sea Global's first Health and Safety Training Academy - SPA
This is Red Sea Global's first Health and Safety Training Academy - SPA

The Red Sea Global (RSG) has announced the opening of its first Health and Safety Training Academy in Saudi Arabia, following a pilot phase during which 1,000 workers were trained.
The academy offers free training for RSG's workforce, partners, and contractors, supporting the development of essential construction skills and safety capabilities. RSG's comprehensive training portfolio adheres to the highest international safety standards, including being certified by international organizations such as Highfield, IOSH, and NEBOSH, it said in a statement. 
Group Head of Health and Safety at RSG John Dunne stated that "by ensuring exemplary safety protocols across all RSG's developments, the academy aims to become the benchmark institution for health and safety training for Saudi Arabia and beyond."
"Our recent IOSH accreditation marks a significant milestone in RSG's commitment to safety excellence. As an approved partner and licensed provider of the IOSH Working Safely course in English and Hindi, we are equipping our workforce and partners with vital safety skills. This partnership with IOSH reflects our dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive work environment across all our projects," he added.
A unique aspect of the academy is its practical, construction-themed training, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. The curriculum includes vivid simulations to demonstrate the real consequences of safety violations, making it the first in the Kingdom to emphasize practical and visual learning over traditional classroom-based instruction. Equipped with modern indoor classrooms, outdoor training stations, and specialized safety areas, the facility enables trainees to build critical safety competencies through a mix of theoretical and comprehensive hands-on training. Practical equipment such as Scaffolding, Walking Work Platforms, Gantry Cranes, Confined Space chambers, and CPR training facilities enable trainees to develop critical safety skills, fostering a robust culture of safety.
"By ensuring exemplary safety protocols across all RSG's developments, the academy aims to become the benchmark institution for health and safety training for Saudi Arabia," the statement emphasized.
Furthermore, RSG has achieved another significant milestone by obtaining an official license to deliver IOSH Working Safety Training in both English and Hindi. This course focuses on mitigating hazards effectively, giving workers an understanding of why they must work safely. Following IOSH's thorough review of RSG's safety standards and facilities, RSG received authorization to deliver this training. This capability significantly elevates the developer's training standards, as it can now conduct these sessions in-house rather than relying on third-party providers.
The statement highlighted that last year, RSG hit remarkable milestones in health and safety. These included reaching 10 million hours worked without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) on Shura Island, set to open this year, and achieving 11 million hours worked without an LTI on Shebara Resort, which commenced operations in October 2024.