{"id":7807,"date":"2026-04-27T10:41:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T09:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807"},"modified":"2026-04-27T12:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:42:13","slug":"europe-unions-call-for-eu-heat-law-on-workers-memorial-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807","title":{"rendered":"Europe: Unions call for EU heat law on workers\u2019 memorial day"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"l-constrain\">\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/sidebar_xlarge_2x\/public\/press-release\/image\/2026-04\/P-051724_00-04_03-MED-397425.webp?itok=SyamT_TZ\" \/><\/p>\n<h1\">Unions call for EU heat law on workers\u2019 memorial day<\/h1>\n<p>The growing number of people dying because they are forced to keep working in extreme heat requires the EU to strengthen workers\u2019 rights to meet the rising threat of climate change.<\/p>\n<p>That is the message trade unions will give European Commission representatives on Tuesday at an event held to mark International Workers Memorial Day, the day on which the labour movement commemorates those who have lost their lives at work.<\/p>\n<p>At the\u00a0<a id=\"OWA2553222f-4b8b-4f6f-2fa3-53a65014acd0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/event\/climate-change-and-workers-health-etui-etuc-joint-conference-commemoration-international\"><u>conference<\/u><\/a>\u00a0in Brussels organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and European Trade Union Institute, workers\u2019 representatives will highlight the overwhelming evidence of the need for legislation to ensure employers work with unions to put in place common sense measures, such as the provision of drinking water, access to shade, and breaks in work.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"text-align-justify\"><strong>There has been a\u00a0<\/strong><a id=\"OWAbdbdc668-88bb-23cc-4075-a70f11188ee2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/heat-deaths-work-40-eu#:~:text=In%20Spain%2C%20a%2060%2Dyear,recorded%20by%20unions%20last%20summer.\"><strong><u>42% increase<\/u><\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0in heat-related workplace fatalities in the EU since 2000 \u2013 the fastest increase of any part of the world;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"text-align-justify\">The number of people exposed to heat waves at work in the EU has\u00a0<a id=\"OWAad5b0c8a-8556-e3d6-3517-59280c7637ac\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/60-more-workers-affected-heatwaves-new-data-shows\"><u>increased by 60%<\/u><\/a>\u00a0over the last 20 years;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"text-align-justify\">47% of people say they have felt too hot at work, but\u00a0<a id=\"OWAe192c50c-6bf5-6759-0300-ec2643f11aad\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/47-too-hot-work-bosses-failing-take-action\"><u>just 15%<\/u><\/a>\u00a0say action has been taken to keep them safe;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"text-align-justify\">When temperatures rise above 30\u00b0C, the risk of workplace accidents\u00a0<a id=\"OWAc4d4bbe7-5073-a542-aca6-54ebb5b59261\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etui.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-11\/Heatwaves%20as%20an%20occupational%20hazard%20The%20impact%20of%20heat%20and%20heatwaves%20on%20workers%E2%80%99%20health%2C%20safety%20and%20wellbeing%20and%20on%20social%20inequalities-2021.pdf\"><u>increases by 5-7%<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and, when temperatures exceed 38\u00b0C, accidents are between 10% to 15% more likely.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In 2023, the European Commission issued guidance on employers\u2019 responsibility to people working in high temperatures. But\u00a0<a id=\"OWA983c7b2d-e287-1d23-0b38-4e057338264d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jstage.jst.go.jp\/article\/indhealth\/64\/1\/64_2025-0112\/_pdf\/-char\/en\"><u>research<\/u><\/a>\u00a0shows that employers have demonstrated \u201creluctance to adopt preventive measures\u201d and a \u201crefusal to accept the inclusion of [heat] specific measures\u201d in collective bargaining agreements.<\/p>\n<p>That contributed to a spate of preventable deaths last summer, including an agriculture worker\u00a0who\u00a0<a id=\"OWAc312083f-6ca4-4b83-9647-209765e3b05d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eldiario.es\/catalunya\/muere-jornalero-trabajaba-40-grados-alcarras-lleida_1_12530085.html\"><u>died<\/u><\/a>\u00a0in Spain\u00a0after harvesting fruit in temperatures exceeding 40\u00b0C, two construction workers who\u00a0<a id=\"OWAa6346bb0-3644-4405-06df-109a5196bcfd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/60-more-workers-affected-heatwaves-new-data-shows\"><u>died<\/u><\/a>\u00a0after collapsing with heat stroke, and a\u00a0<a id=\"OWA6a152e6b-eaa5-4fcf-5abb-b728b0afdf56\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leparisien.fr\/seine-saint-denis-93\/alain-50-ans-mort-au-travail-en-pleine-canicule-a-tremblay-il-y-a-danger-de-mort-a-travailler-sous-40-degres-09-07-2025-ZDCEM22FTVH7VKSIFAX4ISZTPQ.php\"><u>50-year-old<\/u><\/a>\u00a0who died after his body temperature rose to 42,9 \u00b0C while working in a distribution centre in France.<\/p>\n<p>That is why the ETUC is calling for legislation on maximum working temperatures to be included in the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking at the event, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch will say:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Deaths from heat at work are not accidents &#8211; they are predictable and preventable, yet too many employers are still failing to take the risk seriously.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;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.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWhile 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>ETUC Confederal Secretary Giulio Romani will say:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cOccupational heat is no longer an emerging issue &#8211; 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.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Photo:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/audiovisual.ec.europa.eu\/en\/media\/photo\/P-051724\/00-02\">Carlos Costa\/ European Union<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/unions-call-eu-heat-law-workers-memorial-day\">https:\/\/www.etuc.org\/en\/pressrelease\/unions-call-eu-heat-law-workers-memorial-day<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon sd-sharing\"><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this post<\/h3><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"sharing-facebook-7807\" class=\"share-facebook sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807&amp;share=facebook\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Facebook\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-linkedin\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"sharing-linkedin-7807\" class=\"share-linkedin sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807&amp;share=linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on LinkedIn\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"sharing-twitter-7807\" class=\"share-twitter sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807&amp;share=twitter\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Twitter\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-pocket\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-pocket sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807&amp;share=pocket\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Pocket\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-jetpack-whatsapp\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-jetpack-whatsapp sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807&amp;share=jetpack-whatsapp\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on WhatsApp\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-print\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-print sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7807\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to print\" ><span><\/span><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to print (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-email\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-email sd-button share-icon no-text\" href=\"mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Europe%3A%20Unions%20call%20for%20EU%20heat%20law%20on%20workers%E2%80%99%20memorial%20day&body=https%3A%2F%2F28april.org%2F%3Fp%3D7807&share=email\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to email a link to a friend\" data-email-share-error-title=\"Do you have email set up?\" data-email-share-error-text=\"If you&#039;re having problems sharing via email, you might not have email set up for your browser. 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