Trade unions across Europe are calling for stronger EU legislation to protect workers from extreme heat, warning that rising temperatures linked to climate change are creating growing risks in workplaces across the continent

The appeal comes ahead of International Workers Memorial Day, when the labour movement honours people who have lost their lives at work.

The message will be delivered to representatives of the European Commission during a conference in Brussels organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). Worker representatives are expected to present evidence supporting the need for binding rules requiring employers to work with unions on practical protections such as drinking water, access to shade and rest breaks during high temperatures.

According to figures cited by the unions, heat-related workplace fatalities in the EU have risen by 42% since 2000, the fastest increase of any world region. The number of people exposed to heatwaves while working has also increased by 60% over the last two decades. Nearly 47% of workers say they have felt too hot at work, while only 15% say action has been taken to protect them.

The unions also note that when temperatures rise above 30°C, the risk of workplace accidents increases by 5% to 7%. When temperatures exceed 38°C, accidents become 10% to 15% more likely.

In 2023, the European Commission issued guidance outlining employers’ responsibilities toward workers exposed to high temperatures. However, trade union research says many employers have shown reluctance to introduce preventive measures or include heat-specific protections in collective bargaining agreements.

The ETUC said this contributed to a number of preventable deaths during the previous summer, including an agricultural worker in Spain who died after harvesting fruit in temperatures above 40°C, two construction workers who collapsed from heat stroke, and a 50-year-old employee in France whose body temperature rose to 42.9°C while working in a distribution centre.

As a result, the ETUC is urging the EU to include legislation on maximum working temperatures in the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act.

Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the ETUC, said, "Deaths from heat at work are not accidents - they are predictable and preventable, yet too many employers are still failing to take the risk seriously. For many years now, our affiliates have been reporting tragic cases of workers dying as a result of exposure to extreme heat. These deaths are occurring across a wide range of sectors, including street cleaning, forestry, agriculture, construction, and even in indoor environments such as industry. Their loss underlines the urgent need to act."

“While the European Commission has taken steps in recent years, including issuing guidance, the reality on the ground is clear: guidance alone is not enough. As our members systematically report us, every summer, workers continue to fall ill, suffer accidents, and in the worst cases, lose their lives. This situation calls for urgent legislative action.”

Giulio Romani, ETUC Confederal Secretary, added, "Occupational heat is no longer an emerging issue - it is already a daily reality for millions of workers across Europe. As we have heard, this is not only about discomfort; it is about health, safety, and, increasingly, loss of life. There is, importantly, a window of opportunity. The ongoing work on the Quality Jobs Act provides a political space to integrate stronger protections for workers facing extreme weather conditions. This could be a key avenue to ensure that climate resilience becomes an integral part of quality employment in Europe."

Saudi Arabia has intensified preparations for the Hajj season with a series of coordinated operational, safety and regulatory initiatives aimed at improving pilgrim mobility, enhancing public health measures and ensuring smooth crowd management across the holy sites.

In Madinah Region, the Roads General Authority (RGA) has launched a centralised road operations centre designed to strengthen monitoring and response capabilities during the pilgrimage period. The facility brings contractors and reporting teams together in one location to streamline communication, improve coordination and accelerate responses to incidents and emergencies.

The authority said the centre enables direct monitoring of weather developments and emergency situations, allowing officials to make faster operational decisions and improve traffic management. The initiative forms part of wider efforts to enhance road safety standards, improve user experience and support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to rank among the world’s leading countries for road quality by 2030.

The move comes as authorities prepare for the significant influx of pilgrims expected during Hajj, with transport efficiency and safety remaining central priorities.

Alongside transport measures, the Madinah branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has activated an extensive Hajj operational plan focused on food safety, environmental compliance and animal welfare.

Round-the-clock field inspections are being carried out at fruit and vegetable markets, livestock markets and slaughterhouses under the supervision of specialists and veterinarians. Inspection teams are conducting laboratory testing on agricultural products to ensure they are free from diseases and pests, while monitoring compliance with licensing and health regulations.

Authorities are also overseeing meat inspections at abattoirs, monitoring livestock enclosures and ensuring environmentally responsible waste disposal practices. According to the ministry, teams are supervising six major slaughterhouses, more than 200 livestock enclosures and 106 feed warehouses during the season.

To improve efficiency, field operations related to inspections, data collection and disease control are being tracked electronically through the Midani application, helping automate workflows and strengthen monitoring procedures.

Officials have additionally introduced temporary designated areas for mobile livestock sellers, displayed slaughtering price lists at abattoirs and enhanced accessibility measures, including dedicated facilities for people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has intensified its own inspection campaigns across Makkah, Madinah, the miqats and roads leading to the Two Holy Mosques. Since the beginning of Dhul-Qi’dah, the ministry has conducted more than 23,000 preventive inspection tours aimed at strengthening consumer protection and ensuring the availability of essential goods and services for pilgrims.

The inspections covered retail outlets and commercial establishments in key pilgrimage areas, including Al-Juhfah, Yalamlam and Qarn Al-Manazil. Officials verified pricing transparency, the validity of commercial offers and compliance with regulations designed to maintain service quality throughout the pilgrimage season.

At the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, authorities have also deployed an advanced crowd management system to regulate the movement of worshippers and visitors, particularly during peak prayer periods.

Operational plans implemented ahead of prayer times involve distributing worshippers across prayer halls and courtyards while directing visitors towards less congested areas to reduce pressure on key access routes and corridors.

Modern monitoring technologies are being used to analyse crowd density in real time, enabling immediate operational adjustments when necessary. Interactive multilingual signage and digital guidance screens are also helping direct worshippers to appropriate entry and exit points, improving movement flows and enhancing safety during one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.

The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a New Mexico-based inspection company to reinstate and compensate a terminated worker who reported safety concerns during installation of a natural gas pipeline in Watonga, Oklahoma

The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated a whistleblower complaint filed against Legacy Energy and Distribution LLC that alleged a construction crew was installing a pipeline without following federal regulations. The complainant used “stop work authority” to halt the installation and contacted an independent, third-party testing company to verify observed concerns, which Legacy later confirmed as valid. Legacy subsequently fired the inspector, alleging failure to follow the established chain of command and complete the probationary period.

OSHA determined that Legacy wrongfully terminated the inspector for engaging in protected activities under the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, which protects employees from retaliation for reporting violations of federal laws related to pipeline safety and security. OSHA ordered Legacy to reinstate the employee and pay back wages, interest, and compensatory damages, totalling more than US$35,000.

OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces protections for employees who suffer retaliation for engaging in protected activities under more than 20 federal laws.

All federal agencies are required to establish procedures to ensure that no employee suffers retaliation for reporting unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, or for otherwise engaging in safety or health activities.

Federal employees who believe that they have suffered retaliation for disclosing a violation of a law, rule, or regulation, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, and/or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, may file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).