Unions in Europe press for new worker protections to counter heat stress

The Guardian World Wednesday 08 July 2026, 11:00 UTC By Arthur Neslen and Matthew Taylor 1 min read

Key Points

Climate crisis prompts calls for workplace temperature limits and rights to heat breaks and adjusted working hoursAs Europe’s sweltering summer continues, trades unions are mounting a push for new laws to counter deadly heat stress that is linked to an estimated 230 workplace deaths a year. This year’s toll may be even higher, with 1,300 excess European deaths already connected to the June heatwave by the World Health Organization, and other estimates running as high as 20,000.

Climate crisis prompts calls for workplace temperature limits and rights to heat breaks and adjusted working hours

As Europe’s sweltering summer continues, trades unions are mounting a push for new laws to counter deadly heat stress that is linked to an estimated 230 workplace deaths a year.

This year’s toll may be even higher, with 1,300 excess European deaths already connected to the June heatwave by the World Health Organization, and other estimates running as high as 20,000.

Europe (LOCATION) European (ORG) the World Health Organization (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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