A European trade union organization is urging the European Commission to introduce mandatory cooling breaks for workers as a record heatwave sweeps the continent.
Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), pointed to the cooling breaks used at the World Cup as a model, though workers would need longer than three minutes to recover. She called for a maximum working temperature law guaranteeing paid breaks, water, and toilets.
Workplace heat stress leads to exhaustion, illness, and death. The World Health Organization reports over 2.4 billion workers are exposed to excessive heat globally, causing more than 22.85 million occupational injuries each year. Sustaining an eight-hour shift requires core body temperature to stay below 38°C.
Those most at risk include outdoor construction and agricultural workers, older employees, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions. However, nearly half of all workers face heat exposure on the job.
Flexible hours, regular breaks, and job rotation are common protective measures, but Lynch says Europe relies on a patchwork of outdated national laws and voluntary guidance. She insists binding EU legislation and investment in labor inspectorates are essential to address the cross-border challenge of climate change.