Ready to Beat the Heat at Work? The Left Party Fights for Better Heat Relief for Workers in the Age of Climate Crisis
The progressive faction seeks to broaden employment opportunities.
In response to the escalating impacts of climate change, the Left Party is advocating for improved workplace heat relief. They propose extending daily breaks by 10 minutes when the office or street temperature reaches 26 degrees. As the mercury rises to 30 degrees, working hours should be cut in half, according to Jan van Aken, a Left Party co-chair.
Van Aken, in an interview with the German Editorial Network (RND), insisted, "The climate emergency has now firmly become a social crisis. Those who suffer under relentless sun rays or suffocate in overheated offices are all too often paying with their health." The party leader argues that workers cannot consistently perform their best in hot conditions, adding that prolonged heat exposure can lead to a variety of health problems.
Joining Forces: The Left Party's Call to Action
The Left Party's action plan calls for immediate action by July 2025 from the federal government. The proposal includes tighter Occupational Safety and Health Regulations:1. Additional 10-minute breaks per hour when the temperature is 26 degrees and above at work.2. The right to adequate water and sun protection.3. The right to work from home, when feasible.4. A 25% reduction in full-time work when the temperature reaches 30 degrees.5. At 30 degrees, workers should take a 10-minute break every half hour, and fans should be provided to enhance cooling.
In addition, van Aken's action paper calls for free sunscreen dispensers on beaches and more water dispensers in cities for the greater good.
A Mixed Response: German Political Parties React
Greens: Here's to Better Regulations
Andreas Audretsch, deputy chairman of the Green Party faction, supports "adjusted working time regulations." Audretsch acknowledges that construction workers, outdoor laborers, and those working in vehicles face unique challenges when it comes to hot weather, resulting in increased heat stress and skin cancer risk. Audretsch emphasizes the need for tailored heat protection plans customized to each business.
Union: The Current System Works Best
Rejecting the demand for heat relief, the Union refers to the existing regulations that already ensure strong and effective work safety. Marc Biadacz, the Union's spokesman on labor and social policy expressed that the Left's initiative is "utopian and economically hardly feasible - especially for crafts, care workers, or the public sector."
AfD: The State's Role Ends at Trust and Regulations
The AfD follows suit by opposing the entire Left Party proposal, claiming that it's not the government's responsibility to dictate business practices, but rather to trust them to ensure employee well-being.
A Workplace Heat Primer: Know Your Rights
In the present scenario, workplaces should maintain temperatures up to 26 degrees Celsius, as stipulated by technical regulations. Employers should evaluate the health risks associated with higher temperatures. If the temperature reaches 30 degrees, employers should act according to a recommendation, for example, by offering sunshields on windows, providing drinks, or allowing more frequent breaks. When the temperature surpasses 35 degrees indoors, it becomes unsuitable for work, and employees have every right to refuse work in such conditions.
It's crucial to understand that employees running outdoor errands, such as construction workers, garbage collectors, or window cleaners, are not subject to ideal temperature guidelines. Stricter regulations exist to ensure that employees working outside in the heat are protected from the sun and its effects, such as through using umbrellas, caps, sunscreen, and sufficient drinking water.
Source: ntv.de, mau/AFP
- Health
- Labor Law
- The Left
- Jan van Aken
- Climate Change
Enrichment: Bracing for the Heat
Statistically, many workplaces do not fully adhere to the current regulations for workplaces during hot weather conditions. However, it's important for workers to be aware of their rights and take precautions when necessary. This may involve requesting additional breaks, arranging for flexible work schedules, or advocating for workplace improvements, such as installing fans or improving air conditioning systems
- The Left Party, in its call to action, has proposed extended breaks and reduced working hours as part of their employment policy in response to the effects of climate change, advocating for worker health and wellness in the age of climate crisis.
- In the age of escalating climate change impacts, science and environmental-science play a crucial role in informing policy-and-legislation to ensure better worker heat relief, as advocated by the Left Party.
- The Left Party's policy-and-legislation proposal includes tighter Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, addressing climate change and its impact on worker health through general-news mediums like the German Editorial Network (RND).
- Jan van Aken, a co-chair of the Left Party, emphasizes the social crisis aspect of the climate emergency, advocating for improved workplace conditions, healthcare, and environmental-science as part of the party's community policy and employment policy.
