As record-breaking heat waves become more common across Europe, labor unions are calling for stronger workplace protections to reduce the risks of heat-related illness and injury. Union leaders are advocating for measures such as mandatory rest breaks, access to drinking water, adjusted work schedules, and legally enforceable temperature limits for outdoor and indoor workers. They argue that current workplace safety regulations have not kept pace with the growing impacts of climate change. The campaign highlights the increasing role of labor organizations in addressing worker health and safety in a changing climate.
See "Unions in Europe press for new worker protections to counter heat stress", Arthur Neslen and Matthew Taylor, The Guardian, July 8, 2026