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."
