Heat stress at work: EU unions push for rules
Climate change is making extreme heatwaves increasingly common in Europe, and pressure on employers to protect workers from heat is growing. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling on the European Union to adopt a binding directive specifically addressing heat risks in the workplace, since no general EU rule on maximum working temperatures currently exists.
What is the European labour movement demanding?
In a resolution adopted by its Executive Committee on 4 and 5 March 2025, the ETUC calls for a European directive specifically aimed at preventing occupational heat risks. The union wants binding maximum working temperatures, tailored to the sector, the type of work, and whether it takes place indoors or outdoors. Employers would be required to carry out risk assessments based on indicators such as temperature, humidity, shade and air flow, using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index as a reference. In extreme heat, work should be able to be halted without workers suffering any disadvantage as a result; the ETUC also advocates wage compensation during such stoppages, although it says this need not necessarily be covered by a safety directive itself. The union is also calling for stricter enforcement by labour inspectorates, a broader legal scope that also covers domestic workers, and EU-wide statistics on heat-related illness and death, which are currently largely lacking.
Which measures are central?
Besides temperature limits, the resolution lists concrete measures employers can already take: shaded areas, air conditioning, adequate drinking water and sanitary facilities, cooling breaks, adjusted working hours and acclimatisation programmes for new workers. It also mentions the possibility for workers to adjust their own work pace on hot days, and notes that commuting and teleworking during extreme heat deserve attention too. Personal protective equipment, such as high-factor sun protection, is seen as a last resort rather than a substitute for organisational measures. The union calls for extra attention to vulnerable groups, including pregnant workers, older workers, people with health conditions, migrants, seasonal workers and workers on precarious contracts. The ETUC also advocates targeted medical check-ups, training to recognise early signs of heat-related illness, and closer cooperation with occupational physicians and union representatives in following up on health complaints.
How is heat stress currently regulated in Europe?
At EU level, there is no fixed maximum temperature above which work must stop. The European framework directive on safety and health does require employers to assess risks, including those from extreme heat, and to take appropriate measures. National rules vary widely: some member states, such as Belgium, apply WBGT threshold values above which employers must take action, while other countries have no fixed temperature limits at all. Without a European directive, the approach to heat stress therefore remains largely dependent on national legislation and voluntary measures taken by individual companies.
Context
The International Labour Organization (ILO) published the report “Heat at work: implications for safety and health” in July 2024. It states that in 2020, 71 percent of the global workforce was exposed to excessive heat at work, an increase of 8.8 percent compared to 2000. Europe and Central Asia saw the sharpest rise in exposure. According to the report, 22.8 million workplace accidents worldwide were attributed to heat exposure in 2020. These figures explain why trade unions and occupational safety organisations around the world, not only in Europe, are pushing for stronger protection against heat stress in the workplace.
Source: Cambiamenti climatici e rischio calore: come proteggere i lavoratori, 8 October 2026
Additional sources consulted: ETUC resolution on an EU directive for the prevention of occupational heat risks, ILO report on heat stress at work
